tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60572001886758972202018-03-02T09:08:57.141-07:00Fly the Coop“There are thousands and thousands of people out there leading lives of quiet, screaming desperation, where they work long, hard hours at jobs they hate to enable them to buy things they don't need to impress people they don't like.” ― Nigel MarshHope Wallsnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-58410212685262052862014-07-23T01:31:00.000-06:002014-07-23T01:31:07.521-06:00garage sales are for the birds...Talk about feeling like a caged bird... We decided to start culling some of the crap we had been storing in our basement cupboards (our of sight can no longer be out of mind, right?) and let me just say - this is the most incredibly boring thing a person could opt for. &nbsp;Kijiji is WAY more exciting. &nbsp;Actually, washing my toilet might even be more exciting. &nbsp;I know now why I've never done one before, and will likely only ever do this once more...<br /><br />Now that our holidays are done, we *should* be looking at getting some work done on the bus but anytime there is "free" time we seem to find ways of filling it up with social engagements, emergencies, non-emergencies, and pretty much every and anything not related to finishing work on the house and yard or gutting the bus. &nbsp;I don't want to be a nag but Oh. My. Gawd. &nbsp;I sit down to work on the weddings I have shot - the funds from which are paying for important things like the bus, renos, property taxes, holidays and tuition - and no one is shovelling the dirt STILL piled up in the yard, weeding, cleaning, moving... &nbsp;When I start doing it myself I get shit. &nbsp;If I ask other people to do it, I get shit. &nbsp;If it doesn't get done, I feel frustrated. &nbsp;It seems like we are never going to get anywhere.<br /><br />~sigh~<br /><br />How do YOU motivate everyone and get everyone on the same page without being a whining, nagging, bitter "I'll just do it my goddamned self" type?<br /><br /><br /><br />Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-67560857972226833952014-07-23T01:18:00.001-06:002014-07-23T01:22:46.343-06:00Go home, zealots. You're drunk.It is difficult to avoid defining people by the labels that invariably end up being put upon them based on certain lifestyles. &nbsp;Someone who recycles is an environmentalist. &nbsp;Someone who breastfeeds is a lactivist. &nbsp;Someone who takes great pride in their career is a workaholic. &nbsp;Someone who travels a lot is rich. &nbsp;Someone who takes pride in their appearance is shallow. &nbsp;You get cross-labelling too - someone who is a vegan must be an environmentalist, someone who breastfeeds must be a homeschooler, someone who works lots is a bad parent... &nbsp;you get the idea. &nbsp;It's equally difficult to avoid being defined, and subsequently judged. &nbsp;I'm a bicycle-commuting, meat-eating, atheist, working, legally married mother of a large blended family who recycles, blogs, and wants to live on a bus. &nbsp;I do all of these things passionately, without being militant. &nbsp;I don't need to change your mind. &nbsp;I just need you to accept me the way I am, the same way I accept you the way you are. &nbsp;Warts and all.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R45jdpfCgW8/U89Z0CUGkBI/AAAAAAAFWbg/9PId0MYiEQA/s1600/labels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R45jdpfCgW8/U89Z0CUGkBI/AAAAAAAFWbg/9PId0MYiEQA/s1600/labels.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I shared our plans to move onto a bus recently and while most people are supportive even if they don't think they could personally do it, they're generally supportive. &nbsp;Have less, do more. &nbsp;Then every once in a while someone says something that catches me completely off guard. &nbsp;To paraphrase... "Well, I don't feel guilty for my money or my things and just because you don't have enough money to live like we do doesn't mean you should try and make me feel bad."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71fiILBmtIU/U89ZwwQ_8qI/AAAAAAAFWbY/i-ApO4nLaLE/s1600/8560463799_fb62f87fe6_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71fiILBmtIU/U89ZwwQ_8qI/AAAAAAAFWbY/i-ApO4nLaLE/s1600/8560463799_fb62f87fe6_z.jpg" height="273" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>WTF?! &nbsp;Did I miss the part where I said that I was morally superior to everyone else.</div><div><br /></div><div>So today I stumbled across this <a href="http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.ca/2014/07/an-open-letter-to-angry-vegetarians.html?m=1" target="_blank">letter to&nbsp;angry vegans</a>. &nbsp;There are vegetarians and vegans who can be vegetarians and vegans without trying to feed their cat a cabbage-based diet. &nbsp;There are people who quietly breastfeed their babies without once making a sound about bottle feeders. &nbsp;There are people who drive a Prius but have no intention of strapping themselves to an oil rig. &nbsp;There are homeschoolers who don't shun the public school system. &nbsp;There are people who buy recycled paper who won't ever participate in a hunger strike in the crotch of a tree. &nbsp;There are atheists who think religion provides an important social function. &nbsp;And there are people who live in tiny houses who don't give a flying rat's ass about where anyone else chooses to live.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="vk_ans" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large !important; font-weight: lighter !important; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span data-dobid="hdw">zeal·ot</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;"><div class="lr_dct_ent_ph" style="font-size: large;"><span class="lr_dct_ph">ˈzelət/</span><span class="lr_dct_spkr lr_dct_spkr_off" data-log-string="pronunciation-icon-click" jsaction="dob.p" style="display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin: 0px 2px 4px 5px; opacity: 0.55; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;" title="Listen"><input height="14" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAA4AAAAOCAQAAAC1QeVaAAAAi0lEQVQokWNgQAYyQFzGsIJBnwED8DNcBpK+DM8YfjMUokqxMRxg+A9m8TJsBLLSEFKMDCuBAv/hCncxfGWQhUn2gaVAktkMXkBSHmh0OwNU8D9csoHhO4MikN7BcAGb5H+GYiDdCTQYq2QubkkkY/E6CLtXdiJ7BTMQMnAHXxFm6IICvhwY8AYQLgCw2U9d90B8BAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" type="image" width="14" /></span></div><div><div class="lr_dct_sf_h" style="padding-top: 10px;"><i>noun</i></div><div class="xpdxpnd vk_gy" data-mh="-1" style="-webkit-transition: max-height 0.3s; color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: max-height 0.3s;"><b></b><b></b></div><ol class="lr_dct_sf_sens" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.2; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="lr_dct_sf_sen vk_txt" style="font-weight: lighter !important; padding-top: 10px;"><div style="margin-left: 20px;"><div style="margin-left: -20px;"><div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.</div><div><table class="vk_tbl vk_gy" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(135, 135, 135) !important;"><tbody><tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">synonyms:</td><td style="padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?espv=2&amp;biw=982&amp;bih=717&amp;q=define+fanatic&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=maPOU56PCqH7igLC-oDQBA&amp;ved=0CCcQ_SowAA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">fanatic</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?espv=2&amp;biw=982&amp;bih=717&amp;q=define+enthusiast&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=maPOU56PCqH7igLC-oDQBA&amp;ved=0CCgQ_SowAA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">enthusiast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?espv=2&amp;biw=982&amp;bih=717&amp;q=define+extremist&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=maPOU56PCqH7igLC-oDQBA&amp;ved=0CCkQ_SowAA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">extremist</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?espv=2&amp;biw=982&amp;bih=717&amp;q=define+radical&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=maPOU56PCqH7igLC-oDQBA&amp;ved=0CCoQ_SowAA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">radical</a>,&nbsp;young Turk,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?espv=2&amp;biw=982&amp;bih=717&amp;q=define+diehard&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=maPOU56PCqH7igLC-oDQBA&amp;ved=0CCsQ_SowAA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">diehard</a>,&nbsp;true believer,activist,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.ca/search?espv=2&amp;biw=982&amp;bih=717&amp;q=define+militant&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=maPOU56PCqH7igLC-oDQBA&amp;ved=0CCwQ_SowAA" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">militant</a>;&nbsp;<span data-log-string="synonyms-more-click" jsaction="dob.m"><span class="lr_dct_more_btn" style="color: #1122cc; cursor: pointer; padding-left: 4px;">More</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div></li></ol></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Extremists who operate exclusively in absolutes can give everyone who shares the same opinion a bad name, sometimes bordering on dangerous. &nbsp;There's a line between someone holding an opinion - even a strong one - and someone who actually believes they possess inherent moral superiority to those who do not share their viewpoint. &nbsp;Most of us can't define exactly where this line is until it has been crossed and at that point, we seem to develop a distaste or aversion to that viewpoint. &nbsp;People who insist you walk the walk if you're going to talk the talk eliminate our ability to indulge our human curiosity, to learn about what makes us different, and to find common ground.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrGP4U5ajYs/U89cqOE3GOI/AAAAAAAFWbw/OEiW598r8ns/s1600/CausalChainDiagram_Thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CrGP4U5ajYs/U89cqOE3GOI/AAAAAAAFWbw/OEiW598r8ns/s1600/CausalChainDiagram_Thumb.png" height="267" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The way I figure it, we all want to enjoy life on our own terms. &nbsp;Some of us will measure that enjoyment by how much we have, while others by how much we do, and as far as I can tell, the only surefire way to fail miserably is to spend too much time worrying about what everyone else is doing. &nbsp;I don't begrudge people who enjoy gardening and home maintenance. &nbsp;I don't think people who spend money on things are evil. &nbsp;I don't want to convert everyone to living on a bus. &nbsp;And I certainly don't have any intent whatsoever to make anyone feel guilty or ashamed about their lifestyle choices. &nbsp;If someone feels guilty because I say I want to live on a bus... I'm fairly confident that's something going on inside of them that has nothing to do with me.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Zfa26n1jeM/U89d-iCm0LI/AAAAAAAFWb8/4YI7-qact1s/s1600/Guilt-Trip-Sticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Zfa26n1jeM/U89d-iCm0LI/AAAAAAAFWb8/4YI7-qact1s/s1600/Guilt-Trip-Sticker.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Ultimately, we need to measure our successes individually, based on our own values and goals. &nbsp;In a consumer society, we often hear the message that more is more. &nbsp;More is generally measured in cash and possessions. &nbsp;Having the most stuff is the ultimate goal. &nbsp;Work lots, spend lots, have lots. &nbsp;The currency I prefer to operate in is time. &nbsp;If I wanted more stuff I'd need more money. &nbsp;If I wanted more money I'd need to work more. &nbsp;To work more I'd have to use more time. &nbsp;My solution then is to have less so I can do more. &nbsp;Less is more. &nbsp;Have less do more. &nbsp;Success for me will therefore obviously not look the same as someone who wishes to own a boat, several quads, take elaborate holidays... &nbsp;I don't want those things, but it doesn't mean I don't want other people to have them. &nbsp;I don't get you, but until and unless you are hurting me personally I actually don't care how you live your life or what your personal life goals are. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-icrrzRKK484/U89f0SwG24I/AAAAAAAFWcI/R0rIcm_LwSw/s1600/Quotation-Josh-Stern-life-live-people-Meetville-Quotes-92445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-icrrzRKK484/U89f0SwG24I/AAAAAAAFWcI/R0rIcm_LwSw/s1600/Quotation-Josh-Stern-life-live-people-Meetville-Quotes-92445.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Go home zealots. &nbsp;You're drunk.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/h3JFEfdK_Ls" width="420"></iframe></div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-57120184060034545872014-06-23T11:43:00.001-06:002014-06-23T13:45:11.233-06:00a week of reclamationI'm not even going to pretend like the last 2 weeks has been a cakewalk. &nbsp;Despite our growing excitement over being ready to skin the interior of the bus, the biggest frustrations we've had (vehicles, weeds, house...) are only now beginning to be resolved. &nbsp;We're therefore declaring the first official week of Summer 2014 "Reclamation Week." <br /><br />Since the last blog entry, life has been one big frustrating jumble and it wasn't until Friday night when we met the friendliest Polak ever who traded our sick Mazda for his working PT Cruiser, and we finally felt like we could breath again. &nbsp;I would never have picked a PT Cruiser for myself, but I honestly feel like I lost my ability to be picky. &nbsp;Major downsides to the Cruiser: it was previously owned by a seriously heavy smoker and it gives me asthma, it's an automatic not stick, and it was decorated by either a) a billiards junkie or b) a coke junkie since it was covered with 8-balls - window decals (removed), baby- and regular-sized fuzzy 8-balls (like fuzzy dice) which have now become as much fun as Steve to plant... even the door locks are 8-balls... <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RLKj_-j0Tqw/U6hPDvNV0hI/AAAAAAAAAaE/1ETjTVJEBpg/s1600/2014-06-23_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RLKj_-j0Tqw/U6hPDvNV0hI/AAAAAAAAAaE/1ETjTVJEBpg/s1600/2014-06-23_0004.jpg" height="323" width="640" /></a></div><br />Anyhow. &nbsp;Now Bill has a truck that he can haul crap with (it's currently loaded up with the last of the concrete pile we've been tripping over for a month) and I have a little compact car that isn't a road pig to park. &nbsp;For almost 2 weeks we had only one working, insured vehicle (Clementine) and she seats ONE. &nbsp;By Friday we had one working insured vehicle, one working uninsured vehicle, and one insured but not working vehicle. &nbsp;Saturday afternoon when we managed to fix what was going to be a $1500+ repair by simply tightening contacts on Bill's truck battery, we had 3 working, 2 insured vehicles, and as of Monday morning, we have 3 working, insured vehicles. &nbsp;The only shitty thing about the vehicle situation now is that ATCO is blocking our alley off for the next 3-4 weeks while they replace the gas lines and that means no Clemmy outings. &nbsp;It also means that all of our garbage will have to be set in front for pick up. &nbsp;It's going to be such an ugly 3 weeks... &nbsp;~sigh~<br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRiFKmda5JU/U6hPDNxbUeI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/Bsmaezr0rWY/s1600/2014-06-23_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRiFKmda5JU/U6hPDNxbUeI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/Bsmaezr0rWY/s1600/2014-06-23_0001.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bill finally conceded that hand-weeding the grassy knoll of dirt we need to use for regrading is not a viable solution given our time constraints. &nbsp;I grabbed some non-selective herbicide and tried 2 heavy doses but to no avail. &nbsp;A friend of ours said she would bring us the industrial strength stuff they have access to, but I think before pouring more chemicals I'd like to try the torch method. &nbsp;I'm sure I'll have an impossibly difficult time convincing him to go shopping for a fire toy...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXwYkwyAggA/U6hhwIxq_WI/AAAAAAAAAag/R43RVYq7kdg/s1600/pt615-dsp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXwYkwyAggA/U6hhwIxq_WI/AAAAAAAAAag/R43RVYq7kdg/s1600/pt615-dsp.jpg" height="113" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TdbomlTaPF4/U6hPDL20AdI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/Hh99BaeVaP4/s1600/2014-06-23_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TdbomlTaPF4/U6hPDL20AdI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/Hh99BaeVaP4/s1600/2014-06-23_0002.jpg" height="454" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">North Country Fair obviously didn't happen, so we decided to make use of our weekend off and dive into yard and house-work. &nbsp;Clemmy got a good airing out and we started setting her up for our "garage sale slash bus warming" party next weekend, and I tackled the nightmare of a living room where everything from the studio got dumped. &nbsp;I'm close to being done but here's the before - I especially like all the random body parts laying around since Bob, Lucille, and Maria had most of their limbs removed for easy transport.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQZBemR4VZg/U6hPDNEJfOI/AAAAAAAAAaM/H63jxKBO-Rs/s1600/2014-06-23_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQZBemR4VZg/U6hPDNEJfOI/AAAAAAAAAaM/H63jxKBO-Rs/s1600/2014-06-23_0003.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Saturday night we took a much-deserved beergarita break in the nice shady bus to ring in the summer with my BFF in Toronto. &nbsp;Sad as I am that we have had to miss every single one of her legendary Solstice parties, and sad as we were to miss out on NCF, I think we had if nothing else a whole lot of much-needed progress. &nbsp;Tonight I'll detail the Cruiser (who still needs a name - suggestions?) and finish reclaiming the living room and kitchen, then have big plans to move onto the basement cupboards with a vengeance while Bill finishes up reclaiming the yard...</div><div><br /></div><div>Onward, onward!</div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-24408166658693470542014-06-16T11:20:00.001-06:002014-06-23T11:47:31.267-06:00so much to do, so little time...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week is all about the neglected bits of life that inevitably happen when a lot of stuff happens in a very short period of time. &nbsp;Pictures will show better than words the chaos that is our life right now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUKMuG5ZiOo/U58YL2egRSI/AAAAAAAFQ7s/dB4g3hzAvDo/s1600/2014-06-16_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUKMuG5ZiOo/U58YL2egRSI/AAAAAAAFQ7s/dB4g3hzAvDo/s1600/2014-06-16_0002.jpg" height="640" width="528" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The City of Edmonton tickets people who have creeping bellflower in their garden. &nbsp;My whole front garden is/was infested. &nbsp;We have turned the entire thing over and we've made some headway but it's tenacious stuff and needs to be ripped up a second time already. &nbsp;We currently can't get in and out of the back yard without going through the house or walking all the way around to the back because until we fill in under the gate with some dirt, the dogs will be able to get out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1RJ2NRURf2U/U58YMFYBi3I/AAAAAAAFQ9c/6Ndx2-mBuoE/s1600/2014-06-16_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1RJ2NRURf2U/U58YMFYBi3I/AAAAAAAFQ9c/6Ndx2-mBuoE/s1600/2014-06-16_0004.jpg" height="530" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We tore up the sidewalk weeks ago. &nbsp;We managed to rent a truck and haul away the clean concrete and asphalt but there is still a load or two of wired concrete sitting beside the trampoline. &nbsp;The grass is 3 feet tall now because we can't physically move around in there enough to get at it with a mower or weed whacker.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kJGKdEndus0/U58YL03y-BI/AAAAAAAFQ7w/AC6voZ5cxFQ/s1600/2014-06-16_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kJGKdEndus0/U58YL03y-BI/AAAAAAAFQ7w/AC6voZ5cxFQ/s1600/2014-06-16_0003.jpg" height="640" width="470" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of the plants I wanted to save from the front flower bed were put in pots, tubs, and alternate beds until we get the bellflower sorted out. &nbsp;We can't put the swings, the canoe, or the firepit away until the concrete and dirt are moved. &nbsp;And we still have a little temporary doggy fence around the concrete patio, thought Art has figured out how to escape. &nbsp;We will need it to stay up at least until after our garage and yard sale.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WgwIcDJ_Qwo/U58YLvWpnwI/AAAAAAAFQ9g/1CI0QvYHApI/s1600/2014-06-16_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WgwIcDJ_Qwo/U58YLvWpnwI/AAAAAAAFQ9g/1CI0QvYHApI/s1600/2014-06-16_0001.jpg" height="640" width="636" /></a></div><br />When the people who were supposed to take over the studio lease shit the bed, I was left with a LOT of stuff to deal with. &nbsp;I sold as much of it off as I could but it wasn't enough so now I have things like an entire box of hangers, and another full of styrofoam heads, some items that sold but weren't picked up yet, and of course the big stuff I had planned to leave at the studio since it would make more sense than dragging it back and forth like my backdrop stands and the folding card tables. &nbsp;To keep the dogs from getting in there, we have it temporarily gated off with boxes and chairs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mj4RK8Cx0rU/U58YMmxCtCI/AAAAAAAFQ8I/_Yob619QPn0/s1600/2014-06-16_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mj4RK8Cx0rU/U58YMmxCtCI/AAAAAAAFQ8I/_Yob619QPn0/s1600/2014-06-16_0006.jpg" height="544" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was definitely off the wagon this weekend. &nbsp;Friday night we were greeted with a bill for snow shovelling and a summons to court over the ice we hadn't been able to chip off the sidewalk when it was -40 in February. &nbsp;That stack of paper and the box beside it are nestled on the floor between the sewing machines I can't put away until I get the front room cleaned up and the computer I should be using to finish 2013 taxes and my sister's audit.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TP0b7164N9w/U58YMav2uNI/AAAAAAAFQ8A/x3CUz4F3NPo/s1600/2014-06-16_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TP0b7164N9w/U58YMav2uNI/AAAAAAAFQ8A/x3CUz4F3NPo/s1600/2014-06-16_0005.jpg" height="530" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course we still don't have a functioning bathroom upstairs. &nbsp;And there are 4 folding tables and a china cabinet blocking the upstairs hallway. &nbsp;I have smashed my toes so many times in the last 2 weeks I'm surprised they're not broken.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ld2i7NL8MDM/U58YM4lCGWI/AAAAAAAFQ8Y/JE43x-zqsgw/s1600/2014-06-16_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ld2i7NL8MDM/U58YM4lCGWI/AAAAAAAFQ8Y/JE43x-zqsgw/s1600/2014-06-16_0007.jpg" height="432" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the up side, Clemmy came home on Friday. &nbsp;We managed to get the path clear enough to pull her in. &nbsp;She made that funny noise when we cranked her steering wheel again - I still think it's a belt but I'm not a mechanic so... we will be getting a once-over done in the very near future.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IQvwXgYRmc/U58YNfiA98I/AAAAAAAFQ8U/tzBrBvzsjW8/s1600/2014-06-16_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IQvwXgYRmc/U58YNfiA98I/AAAAAAAFQ8U/tzBrBvzsjW8/s1600/2014-06-16_0008.jpg" height="386" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kaelan loves the roof. &nbsp;I have to get up there still - there is some sort of symbol on the roof that indicates it's a police bus. &nbsp;She was pretty filthy inside - several layers of dust, straw everywhere, the smell of manure - but we were happy to have her home anyways. &nbsp;There wasn't a lot we could do in the dark on Friday night so we chilled out, ready to haul some serious ass on Saturday.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jW_6BoOT6l4/U58YNnAWaJI/AAAAAAAFQ9U/Yi43KCm-gas/s1600/2014-06-16_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jW_6BoOT6l4/U58YNnAWaJI/AAAAAAAFQ9U/Yi43KCm-gas/s1600/2014-06-16_0009.jpg" height="640" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There a good sized path along the port side so we can get into the compartments if needed, though we will definitely need her to be further away from the fence when we start doing the body work. &nbsp;That's a loooong ways off though. &nbsp;I still need to clean the wheat and chaff from the intake, and I certainly hope we don't blow a tire anytime soon - the spare we have is scary bald!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fY9UozQ9Vu8/U58YOQPFq5I/AAAAAAAFQ8k/-UeQ5b7oNz0/s1600/2014-06-16_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fY9UozQ9Vu8/U58YOQPFq5I/AAAAAAAFQ8k/-UeQ5b7oNz0/s1600/2014-06-16_0010.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div><br />We knew about the damage to the rear bumper but hadn't really noticed how the front bumper is a bit askew on the starboard side. &nbsp;The rust. &nbsp;Oh my word, the rust is frightening. &nbsp;I'm not looking forward to dealing with all that rust. &nbsp;~sigh<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Yu4ni3mXWU/U58YOcmpMdI/AAAAAAAFQ8w/xa8afDd2mds/s1600/2014-06-16_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Yu4ni3mXWU/U58YOcmpMdI/AAAAAAAFQ8w/xa8afDd2mds/s1600/2014-06-16_0011.jpg" height="536" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We saved a couple of slabs from the sidewalk to park Clemmy on so she wouldn't sink into the dirt. &nbsp;We're going to move her a few feet forward once we have the fence finished up, which is why we didn't mother countersinking and levelling the slabs yet. &nbsp;(in the bottom right of the photo above, you can see Art has already marked his territory...)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QuqKYmOojS8/U58YPvCKQ6I/AAAAAAAFQ88/ArgRLtVps_k/s1600/2014-06-16_0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QuqKYmOojS8/U58YPvCKQ6I/AAAAAAAFQ88/ArgRLtVps_k/s1600/2014-06-16_0014.jpg" height="640" width="440" /></a></div><br />We definitely want to leave as much of Clementine's character intact, including getting the bus phones and PA system back up to snuff. &nbsp;We're also going to try and get the closed circuit TV to work with the back-up camera. &nbsp;I'm pretty excited about having heated mirrors, even though the likelihood of us doing any winter driving is slim to nil.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LZWgiAbWNyE/U58YP2UXfbI/AAAAAAAFQ9I/-lL6kEyD4JA/s1600/2014-06-16_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LZWgiAbWNyE/U58YP2UXfbI/AAAAAAAFQ9I/-lL6kEyD4JA/s1600/2014-06-16_0015.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a TONNE of graffiti all over the inside of the bus. &nbsp;The girls kept giggling because there were so many swear words. &nbsp;The double layer of plexiglass left on some of the windows will be coming off this week, hopefully, along with all the l-brackets on the ceiling that I keep walking into with my head. &nbsp;We're going to have to figure out which heating units we keep and which ones we toss. &nbsp;they had two separate "rooms" on the bus so there were 4 units at ones time but we only have 3 still in there. &nbsp;They aren't leaking or rusted but they are disconnected, so for now we'll just put them in storage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_ydZgccDWE/U58YPGsjfqI/AAAAAAAFQ9M/J4qLAeayQiI/s1600/2014-06-16_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_ydZgccDWE/U58YPGsjfqI/AAAAAAAFQ9M/J4qLAeayQiI/s1600/2014-06-16_0013.jpg" height="640" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We didn't find a single mouse turd (which is miraculous) but the pale shade of dust, the straw, and the distinct odour of cow pie from her being parked in a barn makes me believe there was a fair bit of dried manure on the bus. &nbsp;We didn't want the girls playing in Clemmy until the particulate (shiticles, as Bill would say) had been dealt with so, after we hauled all the cabinets, garbage and sheet metal out we gave her a good sweeping and vacuuming before letting the girls mop and wipe her down with bleach from tip to tail. &nbsp;You've never seen three more excited girls than when we walked to the dollar store to get mops so they could "swab the decks." Weird weird weird...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIh1Sqz0PlQ/U58YQgScTmI/AAAAAAAFQ9Q/HaJ5KH9AQJs/s1600/2014-06-16_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SIh1Sqz0PlQ/U58YQgScTmI/AAAAAAAFQ9Q/HaJ5KH9AQJs/s1600/2014-06-16_0017.jpg" height="640" width="628" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were able to see that she has fibreglass insulation, which is likely why the smell of manure is still so strong. &nbsp;I assume the rest of the barn smell will go when we take that out. &nbsp;Despite the mild stink, the girls wanted to camp out so we moved in a couch and the bistro set, hooked up the projector, and let the girls have a sleepover in her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qHiAeOrfp7w/U58YQFQQMdI/AAAAAAAFQ9E/cgbZt0mHMZs/s1600/2014-06-16_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qHiAeOrfp7w/U58YQFQQMdI/AAAAAAAFQ9E/cgbZt0mHMZs/s1600/2014-06-16_0016.jpg" height="640" width="638" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The dogs were excited about a sleepover on the bus, too. &nbsp;It wasn't until morning that I really got to admire how nice the cockpit was looking after a bath. &nbsp;Sweet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're still debating whether or not we're taking her up to North Country Fair this weekend, as it might be the only opportunity we have to take her out travelling before we get too far into the work. &nbsp;We're going to leave the interior skin of the bus intact at least until after June 29th when we are hosting a buswarming party and yard sale. &nbsp;Since pulling the skin out involves removing the windows and floor, too, we won't be going anywhere until after she's re-insulated and panelled with all the electrical and plumbing roughed in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Mazda will be getting permanently parked in the next couple of weeks. &nbsp;Once we have the first garage/yard sale, we'll pull her into the garage and apparently the neighbour, who we bought our truck off this weekend, is going to help us rebuild the engine and set the timing belt so we can use her (or at least sell her for more than what she'd be worth for parts.) &nbsp;She's a great little car and I'm hoping we can get her back running - I'm nervous about car shopping. &nbsp;She's the devil we know, right? &nbsp;Then there's the part of me that says, screw it, I want her gone because we need the money. &nbsp;Whatever the case may be, we now own a big green diesel truck. &nbsp;Whether the Mazda stays or goes, I won't worry about getting myself a little city car until the fall.</div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-69471706972425372212014-06-13T10:12:00.000-06:002014-06-16T10:14:08.038-06:00the lay of the land<a href="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n215/pictureLOVE/Buslayout1_zps5d14b922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image" border="0" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n215/pictureLOVE/Buslayout1_zps5d14b922.jpg" style="background-color: #ecf3f7; border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">This was a rough guesstimate of the layout and is not final nor is it to scale. This floor plan uses the assumption that only 1 or both of the girls will be coming with us when we move onto the bus - if one or both of the boys decide to join us we will have to seriously rethink the layout to accommodate 6 people instead of 4. I prefer a symmetrical layout over one with an L-shaped kitchen and side hallways - I want the bus to be as airy and open as possible( for a bus) so a clear view from front to back is what I'm aiming for. This is a verbal tour from front to back with an end note about things like flooring and paint. I welcome your thoughts, input, and expertise if you see something monumentally stupid/newb in this plan.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">COCKPIT: We will remove passenger side door, fill in floor, install passenger seat. We are going to remove the door, flatten her to a board, and slap her back on with hinges so that we a) have an emergency exit and b) she looks intact (and pretty) from the outside. Where the stairs were will serve as additional storage. Storage cabinet/benches will be right behind both the driver and passenger seat - hopefully we can install some boat-style jump seats with proper seatbelts for the kids, but if not these will just be top-loading trunks (the dimensions are wonky in the picture because the lettering wouldn’t fit on my Google drawing lol)</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">MASTER BEDROOM: I refuse to give up my very expensive, very wonderful back-saving mattress. Our version of a “Murphy” bed will be our mattress built into a queen mattress-sized cabinet with a queen mattress-sized door. A pocket door on either side of the "master bedroom" area will allow us to have the widest doorway possible and leave the area open to the front for extra floor space and daylight from the windshield when we aren't in transit, while also permitting us privacy when needed. There will be curtains between the bench seats and the passenger/driver seat. I have a $300 crystal sconce I grabbed for $30 at a liquidation sale that will be going over the desk/dresser.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">LIVING/DINING AREA: We are bringing a loveseat and barber chair with us, which will sit across from the built-in 4-person dinette that will convert to a double bed. I want to put the dinette table on a salon chair style hydraulic base so that it swivels, locks, raises and lowers. The tabletop will have a hinged extension so that we can seat more than 4 people from time to time. We are going to use the bases from original schoolbus seats with the belts attached so that we can use them as extra seating when in transit (and because they will look cool). We might build boxes around them to make them useful for storage but I'm kind of hoping to have the bus seats in the dinette can still look like bus seats. Since we have belly storage along the entire length of the bus on both sides (minus the diesel tanks) I'm hoping we can allow ourselves a few luxuries like this. I'm torn about putting in some windows in this area - a small slider window on either side, one above the dinette and one above the loveseat - would be lovely, though if we decide to leave it closed off we do have beautiful artwork we can hang instead. I have a $500 crystal chandelier I picked up at the same liquidation sale for $90 that I plan to hang over the dinette - toughest part will be modifying it from having a chain base to having a post so it isn't swinging around while we're in transit.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">KITCHEN: I found a sweet-ass fridge and stove from a vintage 1949 trailer that I’d love to use if they can be refurbished. I think the stove can be done fairly easily but the fridge, even if we can get it recharged and running again, will likely not be very energy efficient and if we're off-gridding it, that simply won't do. I am also trying to figure out how to convert my antique buffet into our counter without completely trashing it - I think if I can put the top on locking hinges, I should be able to hide the sink in there. Option B would be to just cut out a hole for the sink and drop her in there, but then I'd have to saw the legs off to adjust the height. Of course, the buffet coming on the bus at all is contingent 100% on whether or not we have the space for such a large piece of furniture, even if she is being being used as sink and cupboard space.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img alt="Image" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n215/pictureLOVE/_20-2_zps23da16f7.jpg" height="268" style="border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="400" /></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">ENTRYWAY: The storage closet right inside the door will be for brooms, boots and jackets. If we decide to grab the vintage fridge and stove, this is where the fridge door will end up as decoration if we can’t upgrade/update it to work and we can't figure out how to hide the real fridge behind it.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">The wood stove will be installed mid-cabin over the wheel. Having the wood stove located centrally will hopefully allow us to get more even heat through the bus, and having it right beside the door will avoid us having to traipse through the cabin with firewood. I want to eventually replace the angled stairs with straight stairs. Once we remove and flatten the door to put her on a hinge same as the front door) I’m hoping we can figure out how to make a nesting design that when it flips out creates stairs all the way to the ground but flipped up creates a solid floor area. Kind of like this:</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img alt="Image" src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n215/pictureLOVE/cnd_k004-1_zpse63f9022.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">BATHROOM/UTILITY/STORAGE: We wanted to maximize privacy which is why we have the bedrooms at opposite ends of the bus. I also hate the idea of having to walk through someone’s sleeping area to get to the bathroom if it's not absolutely necessary. (Guests can suck it up lol.) I wanted the (chemical for now, composting/incinerating later) toilet separate from the shower as well - living in a house with 6 people and 1 bathroom for the last 11 years I cannot tell you how many times there's been someone stuck sitting outside the door yelling for whoever just got in the shower to hurry up. I think that having the toilet and the washing area in the same room is actually a design flaw in modern housing - there's nothing nice I can think of about laying in a tub beside the shitter. Whose idea was that anyway? But I digress.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">I knew the shower looked extra-wide - I forgot to put in my photography gear storage cabinet there, which will be a 2ft wide closet that will hold my stands, lighting heads, and other gear. Paring my gear down to a space that size will be challenging, I assure you... I have a feeling my newborn poser will not be making the final cut... ~sigh~</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">KIDS' BEDROOM: The girls' bedroom at the back of the bus will have a single bed that flips open to a double, plus a 2-seater dinette that converts to a single so that essentially the entire room can be one big bed. If needed, we could also look at making the single bed into bunks. I have to check where the roof hatch is - if it's not inside the room we will have to cut out a person-sized window somewhere so we have an egress. Again, I'm really torn about putting a window in there regardless of where the emergency exit is - lots of light comes in from the little prisoner-proof porthole windows and I know bigger windows will let in more heat travel in and out of the bus depending on the season, but it's certainly not much of a view.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">FLOORING, LIGHTING, INSULATION, ETC: We have bamboo flooring we're planning to install from tail to tip. I am hoping to replace the interior metal skin on the ceiling of the bus after we strip and put the spray-foam insulate her. I really want a punched tin ceiling in the kitchen area but that can always be added wayyyyy down the road. With the exception of the crystal chandelier and sconce, most of the interior lighting will be LED, though whether it'll be bulbs or strips remains to be seen. I think we're going to stick with the same dark (police call box) blue for the exterior of the bus but we're definitely painting the roof white with insulating paint (probably both inside and out). I imagine the interior walls will be mostly white as well to help reflect light around and keep it bright in spite of out lack of big windows. Solar panels will go up on the roof along with a bike pen. Not sure if we'll do an awning - it's not a priority right now. And I'm still trying to figure out where to build in the dog's kennel without ruining the aesthetics, too.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">What did I forget?</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">*edited to say, I forgot the damned washer/dryer! Back to the drawing board!</span>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-13693579791130414602014-06-11T15:54:00.002-06:002014-06-11T15:56:34.129-06:00when it rains it @^#%$%^# pours.So the Mazda, she be dead. &nbsp;It would cost us upwards of $5K to get her back up to snuff and that's more than we paid for a 40ft ^#@^%$#@ bus!&nbsp; We had already talked about the need to transition from a single to a 2-car family, which would involve some sort of compact hyper fuel efficient car and some sort of vehicle large enough to haul *stuff* but of course the timing is impeccably shitty, what with it being Property Tax Time and all. &nbsp;FML. &nbsp;Luckily, one of the techs is interested in buying it. &nbsp;At the very least, the work they put in diagnosing her won't cost me more nickels than I have to spare... &nbsp;I'll take that. &nbsp;And in case he chickens out I've already <a href="http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/edmonton/2006-manual-mazda5-for-parts/601730120" target="_blank">posted her on Kijiji for parts</a>. &nbsp;Adios, Mazda.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P95UKP5A0p8/U5jHetEyVbI/AAAAAAAAAZM/jEQ3KQs338U/s1600/2006-Mazda-MAZDA5-1330394-10-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P95UKP5A0p8/U5jHetEyVbI/AAAAAAAAAZM/jEQ3KQs338U/s1600/2006-Mazda-MAZDA5-1330394-10-sm.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">By some weird coincidence, my sister-in-law just acquired a newer car because it was too good of a deal to pass up and so she retired her other car (a Cavalier I believe). &nbsp;She offered it to us a few days ago as a loaner interim vehicle. &nbsp;Also, our neighbour offered us his older van quite some time ago for cheap cheap, and while I think a pick-up truck would in some ways be more practical for the sh*t we'll be hauling, a full-size 1-tonne van for cheap cheap sounds like a bangin' option right now.</div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xev9LQyn1QU/U5jHeNBznaI/AAAAAAAAAZc/ypELrr9LvJo/s1600/$_35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xev9LQyn1QU/U5jHeNBznaI/AAAAAAAAAZc/ypELrr9LvJo/s1600/$_35.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jAOHZTR78Lo/U5jHeNgagxI/AAAAAAAAAZE/voHyr8Pio-U/s1600/$_20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-T5pw79OUHWI%2FU5jHeNLpmrI%2FAAAAAAAAAZI%2FSKNwANgph3U%2Fs1600%2F%24_20-1.JPG&amp;container=blogger&amp;gadget=a&amp;rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5pw79OUHWI/U5jHeNLpmrI/AAAAAAAAAZI/SKNwANgph3U/s1600/$_20-1.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jAOHZTR78Lo/U5jHeNgagxI/AAAAAAAAAZE/voHyr8Pio-U/s1600/$_20.JPG" height="150" width="200" /><br /><br />I'm learning things as we go along like that a car you haul behind your bus is called a "toad." &nbsp;While my dream car at this point is the little black diesel Smart Car with standard transmission that I found on Kijiji this morning, it might in fact be more practical to get something that can at least seat 4 people. &nbsp;The Barbie pink Eclipse is really appealing to me but Bill says he'd rather have an old 70s or 80s Volvo station wagon. &nbsp;Like we'd find one in running condition that wouldn't cost us an arm and a leg to pass inspection. &nbsp;Pssht. I found a little red VW bug on Kijiji that's *sort of* within our price range but until we get our tax return, we would have to decide whether to postpone paying property taxes or incurring new debt. &nbsp;And incurring new debt wasn't on the playlist for this party. &nbsp;~sigh~<br /><br />How weird would it be if we were to acquire 3 new-to-us vehicles in the next 48-72 hours? &nbsp;From a 1-vehicle family to a 4-vehicle family, just like that. &nbsp;The micro, the family sedan, the boogie van and the prison bus. &nbsp;At least we would have enough cars for when the boys start driving.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br />We finally got news back from the mechanic that Clementine is indeed ready to come home. &nbsp;While I had made an assumption that a complete electrical overhaul would be required due to the complexity of having it pimped out to contain prisoners, my assumption is now a confirmed fact. &nbsp;Looks like we'll be starting from scratch for sure since whomever was tinkering with it before us did a bang-up job of bypassing and conglomerating, disconnecting what ought not be disconnected and connecting things that ought not be connected. &nbsp;He also said that with the bus up on the lift it looked like someone had stored it underwater for a couple of years. &nbsp;It passed inspection so at least we can assume at this point there aren't any holes rusted through the frame, but his concern makes me concerned. &nbsp;I mean, I knew we had rust to deal with under there but now I'm feeling more than a bit nervous. &nbsp;Not sure if all the Ospho in the world will save us if it's as bad as he says. &nbsp;But whatever - let's get her home and start gutting her before we start freaking out. &nbsp;Once we strip her down we'll know, but I think it's a safe bet she won't be making any road trips this summer. &nbsp;I want to start fixing her up and even if the only voyage she ever makes again is to our land to get permanently parked, I'm still OK with it.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br />Onward, onward.Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-72619026717009072612014-06-10T16:47:00.000-06:002014-06-11T08:37:06.549-06:00rock that body<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think one of the first things we may need to deal with is the rust situation. &nbsp;There isn't a lot of rust, but if you've ever had rust on a vehicle you know exactly why they nickname it cancer - it spreads like wildfire and is unstoppable without deep intervention. &nbsp;We'll grind off and <a href="http://www.caswellcanada.ca/shop/product.php?productid=29726&amp;cat=290&amp;page=1" target="_blank">Ospho</a> as much as we can but for the parts that need more TLC I figure I watched my Dad and my friends Bondoing enough cars I'd at least like to give it a shot. &nbsp;I started youtubing tutorials to listen to/watch while catching up on my photo processing. &nbsp;Some are really in depth (20+ minutes) while the 3M series (obviously a heavy plug for their own product line) offers short tutorials that cover just the facts, ma'am (which I prefer because a lot of the banter in the other videos just annoys me - stick to the script, boys!) &nbsp;We have a bit of rust on the rear wheel wells of the Mazda which I think I'm going to attempt before taking on any parts of the bus, since I have a feeling taking the car in to have any screw-up I make repaired will be a lot less expensive than the bus. &nbsp;So far, it looks pretty much the same as mudding drywall. &nbsp;I think I can handle that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KWyVvUklGM4" width="560"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course after the body work repairs are done we'll need to consider paint. &nbsp;Most bus conversions are not taken in for professional painting. &nbsp;They aren't generally sprayed either - access to a ventilated bay large enough would be difficult for most people and spraying outdoors is messy and a health hazard - so from what I've read, they are generally rollered. &nbsp;This allegedly gives the bus the same kind of slightly bumpy texture walls have (as opposed to the super-smooth polish of a spray job.) &nbsp;Most folks seem to stick to a pretty basic solid colour or solid colour with a white/light roof, while other people get a little more creative with their exteriors...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3K1RHT6VXEc/U5Y_R0d5oNI/AAAAAAAFQkY/8L31dgA-x7Y/s1600/2014-06-09_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3K1RHT6VXEc/U5Y_R0d5oNI/AAAAAAAFQkY/8L31dgA-x7Y/s1600/2014-06-09_0002.jpg" height="608" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'm not entirely convinced we should change the colour of our bus - the paint is actually a lovely deep blue and in sunlight the metallic sparkle is kind of aqua-tinted. &nbsp;With a good wash, wax and polish I bet she's beautiful! &nbsp;It will be damn near impossible to match the paint where we patch up the rust but I'm willing to give it a shot - close will be good enough, at least for now. to prevent the cancer from spreading. &nbsp;I do like the idea of painting the roof white, though - it's probably a really practical thing to do... will be useful during summer when the bus will be hotter than stink since we can't open most of the windows. &nbsp;Ultimately, if the touch-up paint on the repaired rusty spots looks too ghetto due to a really poor colour match, we'll just go in for an all over rollering. &nbsp;She'll still be dark blue, just not sparkly metallic dark blue.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cA4jpQXJQzI/U5co-txt1yI/AAAAAAAFQ5M/whRtst-zzSs/s1600/10300045_10154163504570430_7698067056423944701_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cA4jpQXJQzI/U5co-txt1yI/AAAAAAAFQ5M/whRtst-zzSs/s1600/10300045_10154163504570430_7698067056423944701_n.jpg" height="123" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The windows are actually going to be all kinds of challenging, when you think about it. &nbsp;Where most bus conversions involve blacking out or removing a few windows, ours will involve cutting a few bigger ones out. &nbsp;I feel like I'd rather pimp-tint all the side windows so we don't have to cover any of them up where appliances or taller cabinets end up going. &nbsp; There's no window on the rear of the bus, either - it's like they wanted to block off all potential exits or something. &nbsp;However you slice it, we certainly have our work cut out for us. &nbsp;Or maybe our work is to cut out... &nbsp;~snicker snicker~</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I recently stumbled across a thread in a conversion forum addressing the matter of doors. &nbsp;It would be a foolish assumption that Clementine is anything even remotely secure from anyone or anything with the current doors. &nbsp;The rubber flaps that seal the existing door will I doubt keep critters at bay, and the shoddy old locks I certainly wouldn't trust to keep a wily thief at bay. &nbsp;We could look at adjusting the door frame size and putting an RV door in but RV doors are (in my recollection) wicked flimsy and the idea of putting a storm door on isn't appealing aesthetically. &nbsp;One of the conversions in the forum featured the door being removed and backed with plywood so that you could maintain the look and feel of the school bus door while allowing you to put in a sturdier lockset (like a traditional deadbolt).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8k7KEgiSPo/U5dt15VPOAI/AAAAAAAFQ5Y/QR4lJXioRgs/s1600/busbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8k7KEgiSPo/U5dt15VPOAI/AAAAAAAFQ5Y/QR4lJXioRgs/s1600/busbanner.jpg" height="91" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We're also debating, since we have the luxury of a side door, whether or not to leave both doors intact as man doors or not. &nbsp;The Schaub bus "Bessie" (pictured above) appears to have had the front door closed off, and I assume this would now accommodate a passenger beside the driver. &nbsp;We could even salvage the emergency exit off another bus to install so that we don't have to lose the front egress completely while creating a nifty little extra storage area where the stairs are. &nbsp;The other option would be figuring out how to install something like the folding jump seats you find on planes and boats and behind the seats in little trucks, which with a small floor panel to level off the stairs under the passenger's feet would allow us to still have both man doors while also making it possible for someone to keep the driver proper company while travelling. &nbsp;There are benefits and drawbacks to both closing the door off and installing a jump seat but the one thing I know for certain is that <i>not</i> having a passenger seat right up front is <i>not</i> an option I'd like to consider at this time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDQbcP9TGS0/U5d2ifqyJ3I/AAAAAAAFQ5g/3uTkTzfgRwk/s1600/2014-06-10_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDQbcP9TGS0/U5d2ifqyJ3I/AAAAAAAFQ5g/3uTkTzfgRwk/s1600/2014-06-10_0001.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Off to shovel some more dirt and relocate more pieces of the mountain of concrete... driveway ain't gonna clear herself off... &nbsp;</div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-76921230616877049892014-06-09T16:50:00.005-06:002014-06-09T18:22:48.354-06:00brass tacksThe Mazda is still out of commission, but the bus is allegedly ready for pick up. &nbsp;They are going to hang onto her until Friday for us, which means we have a lot of dirt to barrow around this week. &nbsp;I mean, A LOT. &nbsp;Our finances took a serious hit this month which means I will now be opting for whatever the cheapest method of completion is. &nbsp;A couple of weeks ago, for efficacy and kindness to ourselves, I might have otherwise said about the concrete, "Let's just hire the guys who come and haul it all away to come and haul it all away," and about the dirt, "Let's just hire the guys who move dirt to come and move the dirt." <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Us0bW-FyWg/U5YRXTH7PMI/AAAAAAAFQiI/fHUYqVHmKao/s1600/10366146_10154160615410430_3342891079519331346_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Us0bW-FyWg/U5YRXTH7PMI/AAAAAAAFQiI/fHUYqVHmKao/s1600/10366146_10154160615410430_3342891079519331346_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><br />However, those being not the cheapest options, it looks like we are in for a back-breaking week of re-grading the side of the house one wheelbarrow load of dirt at a time and manually breaking the sidewalk into small enough hunks to throw in the bed of the pick-up we're renting next weekend. &nbsp;Thankfully there's no charge for recycling the concrete, but we better cross our fingers my replacement credit card shows up by the time we need it on Saturday morning or plans will be bumped back yet another week or two. &nbsp;At this point, attending <a href="http://lslncca.ca/current/" target="_blank">NCF</a> is looking sketchy at best. &nbsp;~sigh~ &nbsp;If anyone is bored and feeling helpful feel free to stop by any night this week after 5pm to shovel and/or hammer along side us like you love us.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I managed to have one of those amazing <a href="http://www.picturelove.ca/" target="_blank">HOLY CRAP I LOVE BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER</a> weekends, which has done a lot to lift my spirits in light of the perpetual stream of BS we've had to deal with over the past few weeks. &nbsp;I'm tired of reminding myself about speedbumps v. roadblocks. &nbsp;I can only say it to myself so many times before I stop believing it, you know? &nbsp;But with the NCF programme off to print, my notice handed in to the Relay for Life, and school being out for summer in a couple of weeks, I'm feeling both motivated and relieved that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-87TOCaddvRQ/U5YVmzd6xWI/AAAAAAAFQiU/yUDr4CmSiJA/s1600/sb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-87TOCaddvRQ/U5YVmzd6xWI/AAAAAAAFQiU/yUDr4CmSiJA/s1600/sb.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Being un-stuck is just about the best thing that could happen right now. &nbsp;Bill and I are setting out a kind of priority/critical path for ourselves so that we are both clear on our intent. &nbsp;Setting some attainable goals and posting the specific tasks associated with achieving them on some sort of physical binder or something in the house where it's visible to everyone will be (I think... I hope...) an asset. &nbsp;I've tried looking for some generic goal/task sheets but what I want doesn't seem to exist. &nbsp;I need something like a cross between this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXuKzXgacUQ/U5YXDX1-pLI/AAAAAAAFQig/oMRaU-kxvW0/s1600/Goals-for-the-Week-Blank-680x485+Mom4Real-Just+a+Girl+and+Her+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXuKzXgacUQ/U5YXDX1-pLI/AAAAAAAFQig/oMRaU-kxvW0/s1600/Goals-for-the-Week-Blank-680x485+Mom4Real-Just+a+Girl+and+Her+Blog.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>And this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QDrrbpFWF1o/U5YXRqDQ6ZI/AAAAAAAFQiw/Mgjiyy7WVRs/s1600/pg+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QDrrbpFWF1o/U5YXRqDQ6ZI/AAAAAAAFQiw/Mgjiyy7WVRs/s1600/pg+5.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Which means I'll likely be spending some quality time making spreadsheets in the near future...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br />With the bus so close to (finally) being in the yard where we can start working on her, I've stopped looking for aesthetic inspiration in favour of mechanical and technical inspiration. &nbsp;Getting down to brass tacks, one might say. &nbsp;Before we make her look pretty we will need to look after electrical, plumbing, internet, wires, tubing, hoses, seat belts, air conditioning, propane, and other such exciting stuff that will eventually be hidden by walls and furniture like any other house, as well as bodywork/rust management. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N9FFChTP-LY/U5Y0PnP44PI/AAAAAAAFQjM/lvz3a5Gp9YU/s1600/gridtiebackup-wiring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N9FFChTP-LY/U5Y0PnP44PI/AAAAAAAFQjM/lvz3a5Gp9YU/s1600/gridtiebackup-wiring.jpg" height="320" width="272" /></a></div><br />I found a couple of websites that have chronicled bus conversions and I'd like to buy the so-called "<a href="http://www.busnut.com/pt6tc.html" target="_blank">Bus Converter Bible</a>" but the Bus Nuts Online peeps don't seem to have a working storefront. &nbsp;<a href="http://bus.getdave.com/" target="_blank">Dave's Bus Conversion</a>&nbsp;seems to have some fairly similar goals identified in terms of the off-grid capabilities but his site is organized in a weird sort of way and I am finding it difficult to navigate. &nbsp;My favourite thing about his bus is the desk, but holy hannah - the visible wiring/plug situation in his "open floor" concept is and not very pretty to look at... we are hoping to avoid visible rat's nests on our bus! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-99dJxBk8vvU/U5Y1g4y9y9I/AAAAAAAFQjY/xft4nlt9myg/s1600/2014-06-09_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-99dJxBk8vvU/U5Y1g4y9y9I/AAAAAAAFQjY/xft4nlt9myg/s1600/2014-06-09_0001.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://quotes.telemanage.ca/service.nsf/web/bus" target="_blank">The Schaub family</a>&nbsp;from Quebec has a teched out bus (I love the solar panel layout!) with hi-speed satellite internet/IP phone which would make couch commuting substantially easier, but they have very little information about the conversion process as they assumed ownership of "Bessie" in her current state. &nbsp;Their travel path is remarkable - they live in their bus on an island off Honduras now but (I presume) still couch commute for work. &nbsp;Sounds good to me...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HW3eN6ZXsSk/U5YyE_n6UhI/AAAAAAAFQjA/u_LnybF4aRg/s1600/July+2002+in+Belize+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HW3eN6ZXsSk/U5YyE_n6UhI/AAAAAAAFQjA/u_LnybF4aRg/s1600/July+2002+in+Belize+005.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>So far, one of my favourite conversion blogs (and by far the most helpful in terms of big picture) has been the <a href="http://www.vonslatt.com/bus-main.shtml" target="_blank">VonSlatt site</a>, which has a bangin' pictorial spread of his process along with some really handy tips and tricks. &nbsp;The Mazda is still in the shop so we've been using a loaner car from the shop. The loaner car has push-button start and a back-up camera installed, which Serejane this is the cat's meow. &nbsp;I started thinking about it and a back-up camera makes a LOT of sense. &nbsp;Since future plans include pimping the place out with all kinds of tech-y goodness and there's going to be a foreseeable wastage of space on the dashboard once we remove all the police-y type stuff, I went shopping on eBay and found one for under $100. &nbsp;If we love it we can always upgrade later. &nbsp;And Serejane will be so happy. &nbsp;The VonSlatt site even had pictures of them laying out the grid to get the bus camera aligned properly.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yhasW6nX_Ng/U5Y2EArVdnI/AAAAAAAFQjg/upHY02qU_xg/s1600/camtest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yhasW6nX_Ng/U5Y2EArVdnI/AAAAAAAFQjg/upHY02qU_xg/s1600/camtest.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Von Slatt used the original bus seat frames with the seat belt attachments to create the dinette seating which is brilliant. &nbsp;Sign me up. &nbsp;I think our first official "shopping for the bus" trip will be to <a href="http://www.yellowpages.ca/bus/Alberta/Warburg/Merv-s-Truck-Parts-1992-Ltd/3624671.html" target="_blank">Merv's</a>, as it is obvious that in addition to some seat frames, we will need to reclaim many bus parts to retrofit our bus, including front flashers. &nbsp;Von Slatt chose to remove the light hoods and covered up the front upper flashers but left the rear ones on.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hr86tqpavTM/U5Y47O7ycgI/AAAAAAAFQjs/I1GLyYyzvGs/s1600/lightholes.jpg.pagespeed.ce.aL3BriGJq6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hr86tqpavTM/U5Y47O7ycgI/AAAAAAAFQjs/I1GLyYyzvGs/s1600/lightholes.jpg.pagespeed.ce.aL3BriGJq6.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hafta say, I prefer the look of a schoolbus with the front flashers intact. &nbsp;Our front and rear blue flasher covers were smashed out before the bus was sold to a private individual (for obvious reasons) but I kind of like the idea of repurposing the sockets. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-93qJaafc7KI/U5Y7Ze_gFFI/AAAAAAAFQkM/1dFykMLh8Qs/s1600/10300045_10154163504570430_7698067056423944701_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-93qJaafc7KI/U5Y7Ze_gFFI/AAAAAAAFQkM/1dFykMLh8Qs/s1600/10300045_10154163504570430_7698067056423944701_n.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />While I'm sure the bird whose nest is currently in there would likely argue it's a perfect spot for raising a family, I'm thinking if we reroute the wiring properly we can install some kind of useful exterior lights. &nbsp;Like custom gobos that will turn them into bat signals. &nbsp;Or disco lights. &nbsp;I might have to run the idea past Bill first.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkHnURTBueM/U5Y6GBL5lYI/AAAAAAAFQj4/4nPYZGsuDkw/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkHnURTBueM/U5Y6GBL5lYI/AAAAAAAFQj4/4nPYZGsuDkw/s1600/images.jpg" height="199" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kzjT2I5nsdA/U5Y6GbasoRI/AAAAAAAFQj8/4mTgo_Kzua4/s1600/304326_fx1_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kzjT2I5nsdA/U5Y6GbasoRI/AAAAAAAFQj8/4mTgo_Kzua4/s1600/304326_fx1_19.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-33353883525434695612014-06-05T04:57:00.000-06:002014-06-06T09:17:03.616-06:00It gets worse before it gets betterI didn't even want to blog, that's how stressful, disappointing, frustrating, and expensive this week has been.<br /><br />Now, if you recall, the bus was still at the shop last week. &nbsp;What I didn't mention when I blogged last week was that our Mazda 5 was booked in for some work, too - she started making the classic sputtering noise of a misfiring engine (think cartoon jalopy) on the way back from shooting a session in Elk Island on May 24th, but we couldn't get her booked in for service until May 29th (Friday). &nbsp; We finally got news last Wednesday that the Bluebird was ready to come home (as predicted they had to rip out and replace most of the electrical between ignition and the starter), and so in the perfect world, we would theoretically have had both the Bluebird and the Mazda returned to us in near-perfect working order last Friday. &nbsp;What actually happened was Clementine didn't want to start despite her new pieces parts, and the Mazda was so sick, the computer at our local mechanic was unable to get a read so we were advised to take her directly into the dealership.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xq2Qh6ZtCxM/U5BLNz63YKI/AAAAAAAFQQE/hD9h20pbX-Y/s1600/9cm9g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xq2Qh6ZtCxM/U5BLNz63YKI/AAAAAAAFQQE/hD9h20pbX-Y/s1600/9cm9g.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div><br />But wait. &nbsp; It gets better.<br /><br />Being unceremoniously dropped on my ass by the would-be new tenant just 10 days before my exit date from the Studio made for a frantic move-out on Saturday. &nbsp;Adding to the excitement was the fact that because we were so close to month-end, there wasn't a rental truck to be found anyplace other than at Home Depot. &nbsp;Which ironically didn't matter anyways because it appears both Bill and I have misplaced our credit cards so even if we wanted to, we would be unable to rent any vehicle. &nbsp;Translation: despite aggressive selling on Kijiji and Facebook in the weeks leading up to the move, the remaining contents of the entire 1200 sq ft were moved to the dump, the Goodwill, and the house in about 8 carloads in the little sick and sputtering Mazda. &nbsp;They are currently all sitting in our living room, which is a little too reminiscent of summer 2012 when the gap between moving out of Point A and into Point B had me storing copious amounts of excess stuff in my house. &nbsp;Right down to having to gate off the living/dining room area to protect stuff from our stupid pug in case he felt a sudden urge to mark his territory and subsequently piss all over my things.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mKW4QnBnIPk/U5BM4bGOFmI/AAAAAAAFQQg/zG76X9NuyFY/s1600/9cmhp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mKW4QnBnIPk/U5BM4bGOFmI/AAAAAAAFQQg/zG76X9NuyFY/s1600/9cmhp.jpg" height="286" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>But wait. &nbsp;It gets better.<br /><br />Because we have had pretty much nothing but rain for the last 2 weeks, the yard work is still not done. &nbsp;We have weeds growing from the dirt pile that still needs to get spread around, a lake of mud where the former garden sat, chunks of concrete from the sidewalk we removed for grading still laying all over the yard, and the perennials from the front flower bed are still sitting in pots and random flower beds everywhere waiting for the creeping bellflower situation to be remedied. &nbsp;So, even if the bus HAD been ready to come home this Friday, it's dubious we would have been able to put her in the yard. &nbsp;Which is OK, since even if the yard work was done we wouldn't be able to rent a vehicle to bring home the plywood for her on sit on anyways, what with being credit-card-less and all...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atT2L3dkDBg/U5BLN961VOI/AAAAAAAFQQA/Lzi4ixEJl1g/s1600/9cmb6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atT2L3dkDBg/U5BLN961VOI/AAAAAAAFQQA/Lzi4ixEJl1g/s1600/9cmb6.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>But wait. &nbsp;It gets better.<br /><br />For the last 12 or so years I have done the programme for North Country Fair. &nbsp;It has always been in direct conflict with the Relay for Life, in which I have participated in some capacity for I think about 9 of those 12 years. &nbsp;Because of the unexpected move and the sickly vehicles, the occurrence of the Relay and the Fair this year were really stressful. &nbsp;They are both commitments I have said I was ready to drop a couple of years ago but kept going out of loyalty despite feeling the tug to spend my volunteer energy in different directions. &nbsp;I made the resolve some months back to make this my last year but holy hell, if I'd have known how difficult leaving mentally would make it... I feel like since I left in my head already, my heart's just not in it. &nbsp;I feel like I did a half-assed job with the Relay and as of this morning we are officially 2 days past the final last call sudden death print deadline for the NCF programme. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IGRvW3jHRCc/U5BLN5dz-jI/AAAAAAAFQP8/4zbimg6RZzM/s1600/9cmad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IGRvW3jHRCc/U5BLN5dz-jI/AAAAAAAFQP8/4zbimg6RZzM/s1600/9cmad.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div><br />But wait. &nbsp;It gets better.<br /><br />While we still don't know what is draining the battery on the bus, it's not hard to see what's draining the bank account - we got news back from the dealership today how much the car is going to cost us in repairs and may I just say, Cha-ching~ &nbsp;$3000 is the low estimate. &nbsp;The repairs are, I believe, costing us more than the vehicle (a 2006 with ~250,000kms) is actually worth. &nbsp;Unfortunately, while ditching her in favour of another vehicle sounds tempting she's pretty much worthless as a trade-in until she's fixed up, and once she's fixed up we may as well drive her, right? &nbsp;Of course, the parts won't be in until Friday at 2pm and I have a wedding to shoot out of town on Saturday. &nbsp;Of course. &nbsp;Thankfully the service manager is a fellow photographer who took pity on us and gave us the service loaner so I can go shoot my wedding this Saturday. &nbsp;We still don't know when the Bluebird will be ready to come home, much less if we will have time to get her clean enough to take up to the Fair on the 18th of June, we can't physically get into our living room, the weeds are thriving, I still haven't had time to sit down and finish filing our tax return, and with all the money we have to dump into the Mazda now (conveniently during the month property taxes are due, I might add) it's highly likely most or all of our summer travel plans as well as the first year of renos on the bus are about to get modified. &nbsp;And by modified, I mean cancelled.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GwwK3E02JNQ/U5BLOlo0hGI/AAAAAAAFQQU/sdcCu6zT904/s1600/jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GwwK3E02JNQ/U5BLOlo0hGI/AAAAAAAFQQU/sdcCu6zT904/s1600/jpeg.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I realize the saying goes, "It gets worse before it gets better," but honestly... I'm tapping out here... &nbsp;enough is enough...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-FMhUNSIxks" width="420"></iframe></div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-4144141200672678072014-05-27T22:15:00.002-06:002014-05-27T22:23:15.900-06:00it's just stuff, right?Someone said to me today, after offering to buy something I am particularly fond of, "It's just stuff, right?" &nbsp;Well yeah, sure, it's just stuff... stuff I've spend the last 25 years accumulating. &nbsp;If I had written a love song for my stuff, this would be it:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/OpDR7tgQiks" width="420"></iframe> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The emotional attachment isn't sentimental - I'm not pining over certain items and reminiscing about that one time at band camp. &nbsp;Like my Dad's things, which have no personal meaning as individual items, my things represent something that was once whole but no longer exists in a form I can touch, see, hold, smell... &nbsp;The stuff I'm getting rid of isn't representative of single moments or milestones but adds up to a physical manifestation of my life's work, tangible things I can see and touch and feel that say, "I did this..." &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tPj4heVt43U/U4VZVqCvXcI/AAAAAAAFPW8/x90ARh7K4fE/s1600/1235412_633449143383899_143449988_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tPj4heVt43U/U4VZVqCvXcI/AAAAAAAFPW8/x90ARh7K4fE/s1600/1235412_633449143383899_143449988_n-1.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dismantling my studio piecemeal and scattering the contents to the 4 winds is on one hand heart wrenching. &nbsp;Props, costumes, backdrops, baby stuff, all my pretty pretty furniture and pretty pretty things. &nbsp;How can I show people what I have done or prove what I have accomplished if I don't have stuff to demonstrate it? &nbsp;That logic makes about as much sense as saying, "How will I remember my Dad if I don't have his stuff?" and is about as deep as a plate - anyone who is actually measuring my life by the quality or quantity of my stuff is definitely not anyone I care to impress in the first place. &nbsp;Our culture has us programmed so deeply to want stuff that it's inescapable without <i>conscious </i>choices to shut it out and ignore it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nmbOjpvbCR8" width="420"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On the other hand, getting rid of stuff is very freeing. &nbsp;It's almost addictive. &nbsp;It's cathartic. &nbsp;Maintaining the studio would continue tying me down to the "I have stuff therefore I am"&nbsp;paradigm&nbsp;that my head and my heart are both eager to reject. &nbsp;When I remain <i>conscious</i>, it really&nbsp;<i><u>is</u></i> just stuff. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23Af0lzlJ4s/U4ViTAX60NI/AAAAAAAFPXM/wvq0va0Qsxs/s1600/10390917_10154204509090430_2909688368696900823_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23Af0lzlJ4s/U4ViTAX60NI/AAAAAAAFPXM/wvq0va0Qsxs/s1600/10390917_10154204509090430_2909688368696900823_n.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>So, adios, beautiful white sofa. &nbsp;You're going to a good home where you will be well-loved and much appreciated. &nbsp;Good Riddance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CnQ8N1KacJc" width="420"></iframe></div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-64198613950633178572014-05-27T16:41:00.000-06:002014-05-27T16:41:30.691-06:00rain, holey bumpers, and the prison barberOf course we can't just get some light sprinkles or maybe a nice little spring flurry here. &nbsp;No, we have to get 3 days of intermittent torrential downpours - at one point yesterday I could barely make out the house across the street it was coming down so hard out there. &nbsp;So despite the fact Clementine is all fixed up and ready to come home, all this rain has turned the back yard into a giant mud pit. &nbsp;Had we been able to bring her in the yard last week we would have been able to figure out where to put the boards she's going to sit on to prevent her from sinking into the garden but alas, until the ground is a wee bit drier, she will have to stay at the mechanic's as I am pretty sure right now we would accomplish little more than getting her stuck. &nbsp;And I don't want to pay for another tow because she's buried up to the bumper in mud.<br /><br />Speaking of the bumpers, it looks like we have the wrong one. &nbsp;Ours is solid, like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oPX1joryhOw/U4TaV3VYRoI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/po3ruY76XaI/s1600/1-_MG_93291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oPX1joryhOw/U4TaV3VYRoI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/po3ruY76XaI/s1600/1-_MG_93291.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div><br />But we need one with a hole in it for the exhaust, similar to this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-moo8n9Q8zUU/U4TZg4nRv5I/AAAAAAAAAVE/8p4vqQ2XToQ/s1600/school-buses-tncountryfan-350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-moo8n9Q8zUU/U4TZg4nRv5I/AAAAAAAAAVE/8p4vqQ2XToQ/s1600/school-buses-tncountryfan-350.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That leaves us with 3 options. &nbsp;1, try and track down the correct holey bumper. &nbsp;2, find someone to cut the hole for us. &nbsp;Or 3, since when she was getting towed I noticed a hole right at the end of the tailpipe that would indicate we need to replace some of it anyways, we can just pimp her out like this:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vy9ayTjWeEs/U4TZg10MD7I/AAAAAAAAAVA/sXdaNryPajw/s1600/3494983671_19e651428f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vy9ayTjWeEs/U4TZg10MD7I/AAAAAAAAAVA/sXdaNryPajw/s1600/3494983671_19e651428f.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><br />I think one of the most challenging aspects of taking the bus on the road will be generating a day-to-day income, without buying a business license for every city we hit. &nbsp;I'm hoping that most places have something similar to a Farmer's Market permit that we can grab, or that we can find some way to be of no fixed address and still able to provide services. &nbsp;Obviously while we are still in the Edmonton area we will just continue to have a regular business license like the one I have now, but the whole "mobile business" thing is actually quite popular these days so hopefully there will be precedent set by the time we hit the open road. <br /><br />We all know about food trucks - apparently here in Edmonton we have currently have <a href="http://www.whatthetruck.ca/" target="_blank">22 licensed food trucks</a>. &nbsp;(You can find out more at <a href="http://www.whatthetruck.ca/">www.whatthetruck.ca</a>)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2vOCZ0RJc4M/U4TiG7oWDhI/AAAAAAAAAVs/FDoELRKENFE/s1600/EdmontonWhattheTruckFood-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2vOCZ0RJc4M/U4TiG7oWDhI/AAAAAAAAAVs/FDoELRKENFE/s1600/EdmontonWhattheTruckFood-11.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div><br />Snap-On Tools has been franchising mobile businesses for years:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-46wOK8Ao2wE/U4TgtZ8RP3I/AAAAAAAAAVg/hUq8Di8Byqg/s1600/57e1386c-b159-4a51-9e08-69922f3b38ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-46wOK8Ao2wE/U4TgtZ8RP3I/AAAAAAAAAVg/hUq8Di8Byqg/s1600/57e1386c-b159-4a51-9e08-69922f3b38ed.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>&nbsp;But there are in fact a whole schwack of mobile businesses thriving around the globe. &nbsp;Here is a look at a few of the ones that piqued my interest.<br /><br />Ian Ruhter <a href="http://www.ianruhter.com/" target="_blank">turned his entire truck into a camera</a>:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lUWvxF5_OVs/U4UILVeTsXI/AAAAAAAAAXc/7vvN0_DShg8/s1600/2014-05-27_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lUWvxF5_OVs/U4UILVeTsXI/AAAAAAAAAXc/7vvN0_DShg8/s1600/2014-05-27_0009.jpg" height="273" width="400" /></a></div><br />From French tips to fake tans, haircuts to couture, make-up to make-overs there are all kinds of fashion and salon service trucks for him and her out there:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odjZBq0KW3Y/U4TuBk0w5MI/AAAAAAAAAWE/UW-58ua0Ls0/s1600/2014-05-27_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odjZBq0KW3Y/U4TuBk0w5MI/AAAAAAAAAWE/UW-58ua0Ls0/s1600/2014-05-27_0001.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></div><br />(My favourite is the prison-van-turned-mobile-barber shop (lower right corner below) which you can read about <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/story/2012-04-25/prison-van-barber/" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCuWwLzWtOY/U4TuBrsm7DI/AAAAAAAAAV8/aH4zZE5L_Q4/s1600/2014-05-27_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCuWwLzWtOY/U4TuBrsm7DI/AAAAAAAAAV8/aH4zZE5L_Q4/s1600/2014-05-27_0002.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also found were cigars, flowers, vinyl records, kitchen kitsch, yarn junkies, knife sharpening...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J1VOpEmsrbc/U4TuBjM7o-I/AAAAAAAAAWA/RJBrAST3dbI/s1600/2014-05-27_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J1VOpEmsrbc/U4TuBjM7o-I/AAAAAAAAAWA/RJBrAST3dbI/s1600/2014-05-27_0003.jpg" height="400" width="392" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And even a dedicated (dog) food truck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjEyF-b3QTI/U4TvsPdC1LI/AAAAAAAAAWY/wr8TDSHHXUc/s1600/Phydough3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjEyF-b3QTI/U4TvsPdC1LI/AAAAAAAAAWY/wr8TDSHHXUc/s1600/Phydough3.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We live in an economy designed to cater to mega-corporations with billions to burn. &nbsp;The idea of big being better still rules supreme but small business owners who would otherwise find themselves unable to afford skyrocketing rents on the mega-sized box store locations are fighting back by taking it to the streets (literally) and recreating a viable cottage industry one truck at a time. &nbsp;Huzzah!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><br />Bill and I are still debating what kind of mobile business(es) we can set up. &nbsp;I (obviously) will keep photographing everything I can and I recently signed up for some freelance writing gigs - we shall see if anything pans out on that front - and I can maybe do a bit of sewing to sell, but I think the real money will come from Bill, who should learn to do 3 basic men's haircuts. &nbsp;I genuinely think he could make some pretty decent coin specializing in these...<br /><br />The standard short:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESUxHC_iAXo/U4T5GODGqmI/AAAAAAAAAWs/SBsp8v_pTtY/s1600/2014-05-27_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESUxHC_iAXo/U4T5GODGqmI/AAAAAAAAAWs/SBsp8v_pTtY/s1600/2014-05-27_0005.jpg" height="185" width="400" /></a></div><br />The standard medium-length:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v2WerL0Y-PE/U4T5GJWuEVI/AAAAAAAAAW0/tC-_GLUw_5o/s1600/2014-05-27_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v2WerL0Y-PE/U4T5GJWuEVI/AAAAAAAAAW0/tC-_GLUw_5o/s1600/2014-05-27_0004.jpg" height="165" width="400" /></a></div><br />And of course the ever-popular hipster haircut of choice, the pompadour. &nbsp;(I'll post a video of Bill getting this haircut later...)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cb5ZehgdjfU/U4T5GOf-fTI/AAAAAAAAAWo/6QKIRT7ErkU/s1600/2014-05-27_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cb5ZehgdjfU/U4T5GOf-fTI/AAAAAAAAAWo/6QKIRT7ErkU/s1600/2014-05-27_0006.jpg" height="116" width="400" /></a></div><br />The hot shave would be a nice addition to Bill's cuts, but that means we have the wrong kind of salon chair, dammit. &nbsp;(I'll post a video of Bill getting a hot shave later, too.) <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u07N0slVTBM/U4T8EFQmQII/AAAAAAAAAXE/VIb9-mw8UF0/s1600/shave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u07N0slVTBM/U4T8EFQmQII/AAAAAAAAAXE/VIb9-mw8UF0/s1600/shave.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></div><br />I had actually debated the reclining barber chair but backed out at the last minute in favour of matching retro burgundy ones. &nbsp;Who knew it would be the wrong choice? &nbsp;Maybe I will have to make use of the burgundy chair doing fabulous girly hairstyles while on the go, which with a little more experience I think I could really rock. &nbsp;Specifically, I am a master-braider and can do some pretty wicked vintage styles. &nbsp;Here are looks I know I can do:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All these braids are a snap for me...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pFHraymLK8Y/U4UIIewQpNI/AAAAAAAAAXU/mgIiWxTki8M/s1600/65b1218f6971e8bcc7a6c2968f2b5e79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pFHraymLK8Y/U4UIIewQpNI/AAAAAAAAAXU/mgIiWxTki8M/s1600/65b1218f6971e8bcc7a6c2968f2b5e79.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I can twist, curl, and pin like the dickens...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFEVJNimgD8/U4UILSZNFDI/AAAAAAAAAXg/Xj1nXuMKjdk/s1600/2014-05-27_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFEVJNimgD8/U4UILSZNFDI/AAAAAAAAAXg/Xj1nXuMKjdk/s1600/2014-05-27_0007.jpg" height="267" width="320" /></a></div><br />Here are looks I would never even try because a) I lack the patience and b) they sell wigs for that shit.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vsI4FvhOcUM/U4UILeHVCpI/AAAAAAAAAXk/sRm702scnBo/s1600/2014-05-27_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vsI4FvhOcUM/U4UILeHVCpI/AAAAAAAAAXk/sRm702scnBo/s1600/2014-05-27_0008.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Until next week...</div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-89291158237568681052014-05-20T23:59:00.003-06:002014-05-21T00:02:29.598-06:00Sometimes no news is just no newsLast Wednesday, we went to get Clementine (her temporary handle because Clementine's an orange and orange is the new black) and attempt to get her in the yard so we could have a dumpster delivered and get busy over the May Long Weekend. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dz-I_2rwBhU/U3wyjvE05UI/AAAAAAAFPUg/oKeRp5H1_Hg/s1600/10300045_10154163504570430_7698067056423944701_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dz-I_2rwBhU/U3wyjvE05UI/AAAAAAAFPUg/oKeRp5H1_Hg/s1600/10300045_10154163504570430_7698067056423944701_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>She made a funny noise when we were backing her in, so Bill shut her off and when we tried to turn her over again, the battery was dead. &nbsp;We tried boosting her. &nbsp;Then something under the doghouse started smoking. &nbsp;Then this happened:</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14cXg8DynGg/U3wyB3_ijwI/AAAAAAAFPUQ/hW_jv_6gi5U/s1600/10368237_10154163921445430_1642850827365959525_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-14cXg8DynGg/U3wyB3_ijwI/AAAAAAAFPUQ/hW_jv_6gi5U/s1600/10368237_10154163921445430_1642850827365959525_n.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rocSSC-J33E/U3wyB3-jX6I/AAAAAAAFPUM/feKI5VOTyZU/s1600/10312416_10154163921690430_1210593500991653348_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rocSSC-J33E/U3wyB3-jX6I/AAAAAAAFPUM/feKI5VOTyZU/s1600/10312416_10154163921690430_1210593500991653348_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Vx2sPK2lBo/U3wyB4bzFeI/AAAAAAAFPUI/hh5nl-rvybg/s1600/10151129_10154163921265430_1033701465482939151_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Vx2sPK2lBo/U3wyB4bzFeI/AAAAAAAFPUI/hh5nl-rvybg/s1600/10151129_10154163921265430_1033701465482939151_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now. &nbsp;I am not stupid enough to think there isn't work that will need to get done on the bus. &nbsp;It will need mechanical and electrical work. &nbsp;I get that. &nbsp;But really? &nbsp;Literally, in the driveway at our house, she dies? &nbsp;Another 40 effing feet was too much to ask? &nbsp;WTF is THAT all about? &nbsp;~sigh~ &nbsp;SO, we have no news yet from the repair shop but w are hoping it's something simple like a loose wire. &nbsp;Cross your fingers for us, would ya?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, we spent the weekend working on things like moving all the plants from the front flowerbed to ~anyplace else~ so that we can deal with the <a href="http://scarab.msu.montana.edu/CropWeedSearch/Docs/CreepingBellflower.htm" target="_blank">creeping bellflower</a> problem we have and removing the sidewalk from the side of the house so we can put in wells and regrade it. &nbsp;It's a slow tedious process, yard work. &nbsp;And I am very impatient and have ADD when it comes to projects that take too long. &nbsp;That makes Bill my hero, because he is both patient and focused.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The final crunch is also upon me for North Country Fair and Relay for Life happens next weekend (as usual) and of course in the midst of this there are still so many things that need to be removed from the Studio and brought home before May 31st. &nbsp;I feel like I may have to take some of my banked up holidays or I'm going to be pooched. &nbsp;If we can just make it through the next 3 weeks, life will be sofa king jolly, though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I need to keep my head together. &nbsp;Cancel class and refund money. &nbsp;Shoot Relay for Life. &nbsp;Finish NCF program. &nbsp;Kill weeds, build window wells, and shovel dirt. &nbsp;Replant garden. &nbsp;Lay stepping stones. &nbsp;Hook up water barrels. &nbsp;Get bus. &nbsp;Gut bus. &nbsp;File taxes. &nbsp;Sew. &nbsp;Clean house. &nbsp;Clear out back bedroom. &nbsp;Empty studio into back bedroom. &nbsp;Get dumpster. &nbsp;Fill dumpster with shit that can't be sold in garage sale. &nbsp;Have garage sale with shit that can be sold. &nbsp;Find new staffing for my little sister. &nbsp;Go to work. &nbsp;Hug kids. &nbsp;Exercise. &nbsp;Eat. &nbsp;Sleep. &nbsp;Wash, rinse, repeat... &nbsp;This is what swims in my head. &nbsp;I want to stick my head in the sand - it all feels so overwhelming. &nbsp;Every year my ass is kicked by May and commitments I swear I'm going to divorce myself from every year but never do. &nbsp;So, I'm signed up for three more solid weeks of sheer insanity. &nbsp;Oh, give me strength. &nbsp;The show must go on...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4ADh8Fs3YdU" width="420"></iframe></div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-45352046540967807862014-05-14T15:06:00.003-06:002014-05-14T15:06:28.736-06:0011 frickin' yearsSo much has happened this week... &nbsp;~phewf~<br /><br />The people interested in taking over the studio FINALLY committed and are now actually bugging ME for paperwork and information instead of the other way around. &nbsp;This is good news - it means I get to keep my studio space sat a reasonable monthly rate - BUT it does make for a crapload of work. &nbsp;Namely, all the stuff I am not getting rid of (beanbag poser, lighting gear, backdrop stands, props, etc.) will need to find a home in the back bedroom in the basement, which means another heavy duty round of purging needs to take place. &nbsp;Thank goodness it's a long weekend - the bin should be delivered on Friday and some friends of ours have invited us to put stuff in their garage sale so since we have to do the studio and the back bedroom, this will hopefully encourage us to do similarly in my and Bill's bedroom and the garage, where as a family we have accumulated unthinkable amounts of stuff for the past 11 frickin' years...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br />The upstairs bathroom has been functional for about 18 months of the past 11 frickin' years. &nbsp;After ripping it out right after we moved in it took about 5 years to get a new one put in. &nbsp;After the first super shitty quality bathroom install (we went to sue the guy for deficiencies and apparently he was deported) we had to gut it again. &nbsp;We started rebuilding it again but never got any further than tiling the floor and painting the top half. &nbsp;There was apaprently some confusion about where the tile was being laid that was holding production up and since I'm not one to nag other people to do stuff I feel seriously underqualified to do, I never bothered pushing. &nbsp;Now I'm just fed up with the whole situation and last night took to FB looking for a solution to what seemed to me a very simple matter: centering the goddamned bathroom light over the pedestal sink by using the box on the right WITHOUT having an ugly "access panel" to the live wires on the left.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wFsMVAyDQqM/U3PUJIZpSHI/AAAAAAAFOUA/_yENLA4Igpw/s1600/10354608_10154160313430430_6975663228423234993_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wFsMVAyDQqM/U3PUJIZpSHI/AAAAAAAFOUA/_yENLA4Igpw/s1600/10354608_10154160313430430_6975663228423234993_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">CHALLENGE: remove box on left and make box on right ready for sconce</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now, I'm not an electrician and there are some things I am just NOT comfortable screwing around with, power being one of them, and because we were told we needed the access panel I was at a complete loss of what would be safe and OK to do, but the sheer ease with which I removed the "pigtail" from the box on the left and got the main box (right) ready to accommodate my oh so pretty dripping-with-real-crystals wall sconce made me want to bash my own face in with a hammer. &nbsp;Now all that's left to do is drywall over that hole and finish painting. &nbsp;Then we can install the tub and the last 42 tiles and call it a functioning bathroom that WON'T grow mushrooms in the walls due to shoddy workmanship by an illegal drunk contractor. &nbsp;HUZZAH!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vfrsy_VL0k0/U3PUcn7aipI/AAAAAAAFOUM/SxO79nMslo4/s1600/10330409_10154160313110430_7368027621302982822_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vfrsy_VL0k0/U3PUcn7aipI/AAAAAAAFOUM/SxO79nMslo4/s1600/10330409_10154160313110430_7368027621302982822_n.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">BEFORE</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D6KBD_ddeYw/U3PUJHekKsI/AAAAAAAFOT8/TpUFmglaa2s/s1600/10288731_10154160424125430_1716394410298781101_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D6KBD_ddeYw/U3PUJHekKsI/AAAAAAAFOT8/TpUFmglaa2s/s1600/10288731_10154160424125430_1716394410298781101_n.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">AFTER</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">All I have to say is, we should have done that 11 frickin' years ago.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">~~~</span></div><br />I have a mountain of pictures to share, but since they are stuck on the memory card in the camera I have yet to finish backing up before I can process them, I will instead share the text version and update with (more) pics later.<br /><br />For the last 11 years at our house we have dealt with poorly graded everything, starting with whatever crackpot decided to over-fill the garden and "contain" it with 9" x 12" stepping stones set in the ground horizontally along the sidewalk (the short way of course) in the yard, and along the parking pad with a sloped pile of asphalt. &nbsp;The result was a grade that directed all the water from our winter run-off both in the garden and on the parking pad onto the back sidewalk - some years the giant puddle was so deep there would be water in the garage; every rainfall we would end up with a layer of mud on the sidewalk that couldn't be washed or swished away. &nbsp;We had talked about topping it several times - Bill wanted to just do the work by hand - but year after year it just got put off again and again. &nbsp;After spending a day digging up Manitoba Maple suckers from the perimeter of the hard by and being physically incapable of lifting a cup without pain in my carpal tunnel riddled wrists and having a need for a bus-sized parking space in the yard within a week required no more farting around. &nbsp;So I admit I bullied my way into hiring a bobcat. &nbsp;Bobcat comes and in under 45 minutes we were looking at:<br /><br />1) fence posts popped out so we can put in a vehicle gate<br />2) garden levelled<br />3) asphalt ready for disposal in the aforementioned bin<br />4) pile of dirt for re-grading side of house made<br />5) tree stump removed and hole backfilled<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">All I have to say is, we should have done that 11 frickin' years ago.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br />There is now a giant pile of dirt displacing all of our swings to the open lawn beside the trampoline (and of course the trampoline itself) there are piles of branches and stumps that are slowly but surely being clipped, chipped, chopped or sawed into kindling and firewood. &nbsp;The crab apple tree has had baking apple tree branches grafted on but we have yet to see if they will catch or not. &nbsp;As a safe measure Bill started a few potted twigs in the hopes they will root and I can at least have one elsewhere, later. &nbsp;Because the back fence is (and will be open) frequently over the next several months and because I also want to not have dog shit in what little areas of lawn and garden we have left so I constructed a dandy little fence around our concrete patio using the girls' old Ikea bedframes, the kids' crib slats, the packaging from our bathtub, and some scrap wood. &nbsp;It's held together with duct tape, zip ties, twine, and whatever other hillbilly fastening/shimmying/propping method you can muster up in your mind... &nbsp;The dogs are still a little freaked out when they first go out the doggy door but they have already figured out where to do their business and having an area less than 50 sq feet to poop scoop from makes me SUPER happy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">All I have to say is, we should have done that 11 frickin' years ago.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>I find it ironic how quickly we have gotten things done in preparation for getting rid of the house. &nbsp;It's almost depressing really - why did we not do these things for ourselves? &nbsp;Did the lack of work getting done on the house and yard contribute to my hatred for it? &nbsp;Hard to say. &nbsp;Really, I never loved the house itself. &nbsp;We bought for three reasons: location, location, location. &nbsp;Now that I've completely emotionally detached myself though I doubt a coat of fresh paint a better grade on the flower beds and garden will convince me I want to stay.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br />One of the things we salvaged from the cabana when we lost it last fall was the super-long string of lights that earned our lot the nickname "Little Vegas." &nbsp;Serejane, Kaelan adn I spent some time last night hooking them all up and replacing the burnt out bulbs. &nbsp;So, despite the fact the yard is mostly unusable right now, I am loving how functional (and magical!) it looks and feels already. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUECrKLxqm4/U3PaLMxo7_I/AAAAAAAFOUY/SdhXf_ehMY8/s1600/10366146_10154160615410430_3342891079519331346_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUECrKLxqm4/U3PaLMxo7_I/AAAAAAAFOUY/SdhXf_ehMY8/s1600/10366146_10154160615410430_3342891079519331346_n.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />All it's missing now is a bus. &nbsp;And provided we've guesstimated the turning radius right, that will happen tonight. &nbsp;Onward onward!Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-65359004557355129672014-05-07T00:05:00.000-06:002014-05-07T00:05:58.154-06:00our bus in our townThe trip back from Airdrie with the bus was harrowing, to say the least. &nbsp;For starters, it's May. &nbsp;MAY. &nbsp;I'm not stupid enough to expect +30 but this? &nbsp;This was a bit much...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9lLOw7cN1Q/U2nJBvoVP2I/AAAAAAAFN8Y/DbuIkGWL1f4/s1600/1437-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9lLOw7cN1Q/U2nJBvoVP2I/AAAAAAAFN8Y/DbuIkGWL1f4/s1600/1437-1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfXtyE5U9ws/U2nJBqeTXLI/AAAAAAAFN8c/AtxBuQWNboY/s1600/1437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfXtyE5U9ws/U2nJBqeTXLI/AAAAAAAFN8c/AtxBuQWNboY/s1600/1437.jpg" /></a></div><br />Despite the temperatures hovering around freezing and a steady drizzle of sleet-y precipitation, the roads were surprisingly good.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtpxRjcwn_M/U2nGnTo0tqI/AAAAAAAFN74/qFhM3P_clfk/s1600/IMG_4037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtpxRjcwn_M/U2nGnTo0tqI/AAAAAAAFN74/qFhM3P_clfk/s1600/IMG_4037.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, the good roads couldn't make up for the fact poor Bill's inaugural voyage as a Q-endorsed bus driver was fa-fa-fa-FREEZING!!! &nbsp;Between the cold and wind, the missing chunk of bus where one of the former emergency vehicle lights lived, and the heater not working (we don't know if it's busted or we just didn't figure out how to work it) it was a chilly drive.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B63C5NzRVPg/U2nGnWRlxJI/AAAAAAAFN70/DBGq_ec0Lj0/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B63C5NzRVPg/U2nGnWRlxJI/AAAAAAAFN70/DBGq_ec0Lj0/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We stopped in Leduc for a pee break and to get Bill some coffee to help warm him up. &nbsp;While in the parking lot, we had no end of fun playing with the intercom... which still works... &nbsp;and hopefully will continue to work after we start ripping up the electricals to find a) whatever short keeps draining the battery and b) to create the clean slate we're going to need when we start doing a complete overhaul...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPHP_ZEpN6g/U2nGnnVr8NI/AAAAAAAFN78/tcpx4grChMA/s1600/IMG_4042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPHP_ZEpN6g/U2nGnnVr8NI/AAAAAAAFN78/tcpx4grChMA/s1600/IMG_4042.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About driving Bill said, "It's fun, but it's like I want more hours of practice..." &nbsp;Aside of a tendency to favour driving WAY to the right (which is fine as long as whatever road we're on has shoulders) he managed brilliantly, maneuvering the bus safely into the driveway of our lovely hosts, who will babysit the bus until we get our fence sorted out. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9s-6QQ9-f6U/U2nGqrsoH-I/AAAAAAAFN8M/SWD5LkIoEi8/s1600/IMG_4043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9s-6QQ9-f6U/U2nGqrsoH-I/AAAAAAAFN8M/SWD5LkIoEi8/s1600/IMG_4043.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I got to re-park the bus today, so I've officially driven her, too, but I'm excited to get some real hours in practicing, real soon!</div><br />Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-42299422811696888822014-05-02T09:38:00.004-06:002014-05-02T09:41:10.160-06:00So, this is happening.On Wednesday Bill got his Q-endorsement. &nbsp;Yesterday we measured out the yard, planned the gate in the fence, debated how close to dead the almost dead apple tree was and whether she should be trimmed back to accommodate parking the bus or just put out of her misery and cut down entirely. &nbsp;Looks like we are saying farewell to my favourite apple tree, who last year didn't have the ability to blossom much less bear fruit. &nbsp;Poor tree. &nbsp;We are going to try and graft a couple of her branches onto one of the two remaining healthy trees in the hopes of salvaging enough to at least a make couple of pans of apple crisp, but I'm not getting my hopes up. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLPetFu-nUs/U2O7hsREmFI/AAAAAAAAAR4/rPuURQrKEes/s1600/IMGP3624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLPetFu-nUs/U2O7hsREmFI/AAAAAAAAAR4/rPuURQrKEes/s1600/IMGP3624.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E8p-I2xIErk/U2O7hqBMKMI/AAAAAAAAAR8/bH8s2N8vXUc/s1600/IMGP4596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E8p-I2xIErk/U2O7hqBMKMI/AAAAAAAAAR8/bH8s2N8vXUc/s1600/IMGP4596.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Today, once we get the last piece of paperwork in place, we will have insurance and get registration done, pick up a plate. &nbsp;Tonight we collect the bumper and pack the car up to head south in the morning, where we will spend the weekend visiting with friends, partying it up at the roller rink, and of course bringing home Helen. &nbsp;We will have to park her at a friend's place for a couple of weeks until the fencing and tree are dealt with at our place, but at least she will be in the city and not some remote acreage where we have to drive an hour to visit her. &nbsp;I can hardly wait to have her home, in our own yard, where we can begin the transformation.<br /><br />Sidebar: &nbsp;I found this killer trailer that would make an excellent portable studio. &nbsp;Unfortunately, we are out of funds right now or let me tell you, this bad girl would be coming home to us, too. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WVBUh54wwLM/U2O0s91ZsEI/AAAAAAAAARk/7hls4-UhoMQ/s1600/$_20-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WVBUh54wwLM/U2O0s91ZsEI/AAAAAAAAARk/7hls4-UhoMQ/s1600/$_20-1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3oyMI5vIJg4/U2O0shjrEPI/AAAAAAAAARU/S2V6L1RNX44/s1600/$_20-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3oyMI5vIJg4/U2O0shjrEPI/AAAAAAAAARU/S2V6L1RNX44/s1600/$_20-4.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DpaEMTuClaU/U2O0s9xIqcI/AAAAAAAAARQ/hXHY0nT6tq4/s1600/$_20-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DpaEMTuClaU/U2O0s9xIqcI/AAAAAAAAARQ/hXHY0nT6tq4/s1600/$_20-5.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></div><br />Honestly, I would take her for the appliances alone and just convert the shell... &nbsp;how sexy are these little babies?!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-brMAGzHVLZQ/U2O0tYgwueI/AAAAAAAAARc/KfMKTzzDBV0/s1600/$_20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-brMAGzHVLZQ/U2O0tYgwueI/AAAAAAAAARc/KfMKTzzDBV0/s1600/$_20.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But if wishes were horses then beggars would ride, right? &nbsp;So, I'll be responsible. &nbsp;Property taxes first, bus renos next. &nbsp;~sigh~</div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-7636293778859675532014-04-28T09:45:00.001-06:002014-04-29T16:04:03.374-06:00lemon, lime or grapefruit, that is the question...Appliance paint may very well be the best thing I've ever heard of. &nbsp;I'm seriously tempted to try it out on our house appliances first. &nbsp;Bright yellow looks so cheerful...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJdAa7eDjnU/U152lY0dqVI/AAAAAAAAAKI/BKZ4UVWZAXE/s1600/pns2_120823-550x367.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">while the pastel pink is deliciously 50s</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjWjZR_p-dU/U152iMWIxUI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/rF8JlQSBws0/s1600/170455607445.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as is the minty green</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLYh-Yr73iE/U152iDUuE-I/AAAAAAAAAJY/HKkrdD8XGOs/s1600/Green-Retro-Fridge-copy.jpg" height="200" width="153" /><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uv5yC14xxII/U152ixx1VNI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/5QjTJVRsaug/s1600/eclectic-refrigerators-and-freezers.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">but then again, there's something about a lime and fuschia combo...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UwoRKoeG5v8/U152jRKvC6I/AAAAAAAAAJw/goKuee-qOfI/s1600/popular-pink-kitchen-appliances-for-stove-photos-of-pink-kitchen-appliances-.jpg" height="228" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9n4RqLrMwUI/U152imfR_oI/AAAAAAAAAJk/4ogQl1Q4n8o/s1600/Lime-green-kelvintor.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to my friend Robin for enlightening me on the endless possibilities of appliance paint... &nbsp;no more worries about the ugly wood fridge panels here!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What would YOU pick?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvqgpNw0dmM/U153aLcV4wI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/L2k6Lh59-Wc/s1600/topsecretcolorchart.jpg" height="640" width="435" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-1004335873824303272014-04-24T16:33:00.000-06:002014-04-29T15:51:05.102-06:00airbrakes, insurance and bus porn OH MY!Bill goes for air brake training this Saturday and I cannot tell a lie - I am INSANELY jealous that he will get to drive our bus to Edmonton. &nbsp;Nonetheless, it means we are close now. &nbsp;Although I'm allowed to drive the bus as long as someone Q-endorsed is sitting beside me, considering there are no seats in the bus that's not really an option just yet. &nbsp;Alberta doesn't have an online Airbrakes guide that I could find <a href="http://digitalcollection.gov.mb.ca/awweb/pdfopener?smd=1&amp;did=20528&amp;md=1">Manitoba</a>&nbsp;does as does <a href="https://www.sgi.sk.ca/individuals/licensing/studyguides/airbrake/index.html">Saskatchewan</a>,&nbsp;if you want a little light reading. The content is almost identical but the pictures are more fun in the SK version...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kcWb8VVhdIQ/U1l9c7vV4mI/AAAAAAAAAHc/TnId381lx1U/s1600/page_03_image_01.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kcWb8VVhdIQ/U1l9c7vV4mI/AAAAAAAAAHc/TnId381lx1U/s1600/page_03_image_01.gif" height="86" width="400" /></a></div><br />I tried an online airbrake test, too. &nbsp;You must get 25 of 30 questions right to pass the written test at the MVD. &nbsp;I got 73% which is a fail but before you are impressed by my lack of training and almost-passing mark, I think the test was unfairly rigged in my favour. &nbsp;Namely, the first 24 questions seemed normal and after that it's like someone completely shit the bed setting the answers up. &nbsp;For example:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HDuSWZsMm1I/U1lOMd_WtlI/AAAAAAAAAGU/A0bno2Tqd7Q/s1600/airbrake+WTF.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HDuSWZsMm1I/U1lOMd_WtlI/AAAAAAAAAGU/A0bno2Tqd7Q/s1600/airbrake+WTF.tiff" height="285" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>It is my sincere hope that our Alberta provincial exam is better designed than this. &nbsp;Nevertheless, I should have my own air brake Q-endorsement by mid-May and then we will hopefully both be able to log a few hours of practice driving the bus both in the city and on the highways for a few trips. &nbsp;We have a completely empty bus shell at this point (though we hope to at least throw some old van seats in her so we can travel as a pack) which means we can't cook or poop in the bus yet. &nbsp;So if we come to visit you, we might want to eat your food and use your facilities.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><br />We have the kindness of a friend in the city allowing us to park the bus on his extra-long driveway until we have time to move our fence, which is awesome since I'm not really keen on having it parked so far away we have to schedule a visit. &nbsp;I'm looking forward to getting in and measuring everything up so we can start looking up parts and doing up floor plans. &nbsp;First parts I started looking at were kitchen parts, since we can make all the cabinets and furniture custom... &nbsp;and HOLY HELL are mobile appliances expensive!!! &nbsp;Not only that, but because we are all subject to what the "market demands" and the current trend in RV decor is wood panelling, a lot of what looks like what you used to see on the side of 70s station wagons. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3QlJv3k258/U1llDCrU77I/AAAAAAAAAGo/96W0IcYOgeQ/s1600/IMG_1431-768x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3QlJv3k258/U1llDCrU77I/AAAAAAAAAGo/96W0IcYOgeQ/s1600/IMG_1431-768x1024.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzVlwEnagZw/U1llC5Smr5I/AAAAAAAAAGk/J0tkLpDMrlY/s1600/$_35-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzVlwEnagZw/U1llC5Smr5I/AAAAAAAAAGk/J0tkLpDMrlY/s1600/$_35-1.JPG" height="200" width="112" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T6_9CLqD5IQ/U1llDLoOgLI/AAAAAAAAAG4/fUB9kjbj5r4/s1600/$_35-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T6_9CLqD5IQ/U1llDLoOgLI/AAAAAAAAAG4/fUB9kjbj5r4/s1600/$_35-2.JPG" height="200" width="112" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l5ues2dNbs0/U1llD0U3hxI/AAAAAAAAAGw/CDqLPlGwkY4/s1600/M11918.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l5ues2dNbs0/U1llD0U3hxI/AAAAAAAAAGw/CDqLPlGwkY4/s1600/M11918.1.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Amirite?!&nbsp;</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v5bR4SP-820/U1lp6FkZoxI/AAAAAAAAAHM/LV1NDsyoLu0/s1600/1976_Chevy_Caprice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v5bR4SP-820/U1lp6FkZoxI/AAAAAAAAAHM/LV1NDsyoLu0/s1600/1976_Chevy_Caprice.jpg" height="173" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Find <a href="http://www.kijiji.ca/b-trailer-parts-accessories/alberta/fridge/page-2/k0c337l9003">a used one</a>, you say? &nbsp;Let me assure you that even a used fridge (in stainless or panelled wood) is still (by the cubic foot) well above what you pay for a house fridge that's twice (or more) as big! &nbsp;The one on the top right, according to Kijiji, was pulled from a written-off unit. &nbsp;They're asking a cool $750. &nbsp;If I want one with the panel (and door) pre-removed I'm looking at $600. &nbsp;While I am 100% sure that as I dig deeper I will learn where the magic reclaimed RV parts live, until then I am actively seeing extra employment to pay for a fridge (up to $1600 new) and composting toilet (starting at $1200 new) which will alone cost more than insuring the damned bus for an entire year...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><br />It's almost time to name the bus. &nbsp;I suppose you can go either way, naming the bus and decorating her to suit the name, or waiting until she's done and then picking a name. &nbsp;I thought she looked like a Nellie at first, but now I'm leaning towards making Helen Back or Helena Handbasket. &nbsp;I'm open to suggestions. &nbsp;Here are some super-fly buses.<br /><br />This is Black Betty:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4pytJVydTA/U1mBZfA3a3I/AAAAAAAAAI0/uO86n2s6TXQ/s1600/black+betty+bus.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4pytJVydTA/U1mBZfA3a3I/AAAAAAAAAI0/uO86n2s6TXQ/s1600/black+betty+bus.tiff" height="227" width="320" /></a></div><br />This is Clementine:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_nI3O0wzi8/U1mBXL5F_PI/AAAAAAAAAHw/uBzv1nf7Fb0/s1600/$_20-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_nI3O0wzi8/U1mBXL5F_PI/AAAAAAAAAHw/uBzv1nf7Fb0/s1600/$_20-1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I actually love the buses from the late 40s through the mid-60s. &nbsp;If we suddenly won the lotto I would totally buy one of these sexy biatches...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53JXdHistFw/U1mBXNTcH7I/AAAAAAAAAHs/Z1lzCKvQtz4/s1600/3666751471_f9a0bea888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53JXdHistFw/U1mBXNTcH7I/AAAAAAAAAHs/Z1lzCKvQtz4/s1600/3666751471_f9a0bea888.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t85wvPgv0x8/U1mBarh9q2I/AAAAAAAAAIs/mR35X-3xWT0/s1600/majestic-bus06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t85wvPgv0x8/U1mBarh9q2I/AAAAAAAAAIs/mR35X-3xWT0/s1600/majestic-bus06.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xlKoc-i1g5c/U1mBZ58NtFI/AAAAAAAAAIg/M1HwaH5t7OI/s1600/PB130015-001-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xlKoc-i1g5c/U1mBZ58NtFI/AAAAAAAAAIg/M1HwaH5t7OI/s1600/PB130015-001-XL.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></div><br />I've also found some really amazing double decker bus conversions. &nbsp;Since most double deckers aren't really geared for highway driving, it's not really a practical bus for us, but I sure do love the idea...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xR9_ZOgnFH4/U1mBX_vLJnI/AAAAAAAAAIE/12fehL8fPkU/s1600/article-0-0290D47C000005DC-962_468x747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LAaBzUjP-hc/U1mBYubOFqI/AAAAAAAAAIM/zxiC-nhcHQI/s1600/article-1086613-027A125E000005DC-400_468x381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LAaBzUjP-hc/U1mBYubOFqI/AAAAAAAAAIM/zxiC-nhcHQI/s1600/article-1086613-027A125E000005DC-400_468x381.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xR9_ZOgnFH4/U1mBX_vLJnI/AAAAAAAAAIE/12fehL8fPkU/s1600/article-0-0290D47C000005DC-962_468x747.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LZTiy0YXssA/U1mBXHcVcSI/AAAAAAAAAHo/u7GW_5cWZI0/s1600/DEW763Y_27-09-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LZTiy0YXssA/U1mBXHcVcSI/AAAAAAAAAHo/u7GW_5cWZI0/s1600/DEW763Y_27-09-09.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, of course, there's still a lot of unanswered questions about what the interior will ultimately look like. &nbsp;Sleeping space for company is a big issue so far - I don't want to take up precious space with excess bulk from mattresses and I'm wondering if these modified hammock style bunks might not be an option.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw1chgwds1c/U1mBX-zyS0I/AAAAAAAAAIA/_SCWxg3kLrI/s1600/article-0-195EBDD7000005DC-53_634x427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw1chgwds1c/U1mBX-zyS0I/AAAAAAAAAIA/_SCWxg3kLrI/s1600/article-0-195EBDD7000005DC-53_634x427.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like you didn't know I'm always looking for bus porn. &nbsp;I haven't seen this reno before and I really love the richness, openness, and simplicity of the design. &nbsp;Not gonna lie - I also reallllly love the look of the diamond plate steel flooring. &nbsp;Some vehicles have a lot of on the outside to make them look "tough" but as flooring it just looks really slick.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oq_biiIGs70/U1mBZFRsrKI/AAAAAAAAAIU/-WQlqYKl9xU/s1600/bed-breakfast-bus-recycled-israel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oq_biiIGs70/U1mBZFRsrKI/AAAAAAAAAIU/-WQlqYKl9xU/s1600/bed-breakfast-bus-recycled-israel.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7P7i1SqiwQw/U1mK9TVxGNI/AAAAAAAAAJI/IlJBsfLlEQA/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7P7i1SqiwQw/U1mK9TVxGNI/AAAAAAAAAJI/IlJBsfLlEQA/s1600/35.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look!!! &nbsp;A bus orgy!!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IV_hAzTQm-Y/U1mBZij8wjI/AAAAAAAAAIk/G1e6UwiubW4/s1600/m8yg1hFTjkMVK9gGFADZAPQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IV_hAzTQm-Y/U1mBZij8wjI/AAAAAAAAAIk/G1e6UwiubW4/s1600/m8yg1hFTjkMVK9gGFADZAPQ.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've been getting a LOT of flack from concerned family members about how stupid and short-sighted it would be for us to sell our house because it's such a huge asset. &nbsp;Here's the thing. &nbsp;As long as the equity is locked up in the house, and as long as we base our future on spending time, money, and energy preserving the house itself, it is in fact an encumbrance. &nbsp;Rather than remain tied to an investment that prevents us from scaling back in order to create a profit margin in our lives, we are letting it go in order to seek other investment options. &nbsp;People do this all the time with their investments - flipping houses, trading stocks, buying bonds - and yes, it comes with varying risks, but most people regret the risks they didn't take more than the ones they did. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now. &nbsp;Rest assured. &nbsp;We are wholly conscious of the fact it would be stupid of us to sell our house and party with the profits. &nbsp;There are in fact a couple of phases (a 2-3 year plan and a 3-5 year plan) that in fact do not involve us quitting our day jobs, pissing away every penny we've earned on the house on an extravagant road trip, then preying upon the kindness of family, friends and strangers when the cash runs out. &nbsp;For starters, the second the house sells, we will be buying land to work on Phase 1 of the Big Plan, and once we have enough equity and/or savings built up we can initiate Phase 2 of The Big Plan. &nbsp;(And no, I'm not defining Part 2 here because it's still being formed and therefore remains above your pay grade unless you're family or an intimate friend.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the process of making this work for us, I've been doing a lot of research on the various "lifestyles" that bus dwellers lead. &nbsp;They range from hip city slickers to your stereotypical dirty hippy but there is obviously some crossover when it comes to the "on the road" portion of Phase 1. &nbsp;I'm learning a lot about things like boondocking, courtesy vs. stealth camping, and other such "nomadic" accommodations available for "free" (or cheap.) &nbsp;This video made some really great points that seem like common sense to me (honestly, <a href="http://youtu.be/ILtIGMpcXrU?t=2m58s">the "RV" dream described at 3:00</a> sounds so ridiculously entitled, immature, and poorly thought out I actually rolled my eyes) but since there are people following our journey to see what pitfalls we make encounter so they can avoid them, I'll share:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ILtIGMpcXrU" width="420"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Until next time... &nbsp;cheers~</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-32646658151320997372014-04-16T21:14:00.002-06:002014-04-29T15:53:31.027-06:00all the little piecesAfter a very long and somewhat painful journey, we now sit here:<br /><br />Bus is paid in full.<br />Inspection has been passed with flying colours save for needing a new rear bumper.<br />Bumper has been found.<br />Bumper is being delivered to Edmonton by my BFF's Dad so I get a coffee date out of the deal.<br />Bill does air brake training next weekend.<br />Spot has been found to park bus in the City for a couple of weeks until we get our fence moved.<br />Bus porn was viewed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P05JzkxbdG8/U09A7KXVr4I/AAAAAAAFMn8/WWs5-2Qufgw/s1600/1544587_10154057332590430_1523282077344733923_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P05JzkxbdG8/U09A7KXVr4I/AAAAAAAFMn8/WWs5-2Qufgw/s1600/1544587_10154057332590430_1523282077344733923_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />~phewf~<br /><br />Of course the second the bus arrives, the first thing that will happen will be a very detailed process of measuring everything so that we can make a floor plan and start devising the reno process - insulation, plumbing and electrical will be first. Thankfully, we have a rather large group of very supportive and slightly crazy friends who are pretty excited about this whole project and are insisting on helping with everything from helping with the electrical to designing and building furniture.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njBpKFuhV6A/U09G8Ky6jhI/AAAAAAAFMo0/Eb48p1-mquc/s1600/1725.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-njBpKFuhV6A/U09G8Ky6jhI/AAAAAAAFMo0/Eb48p1-mquc/s1600/1725.gif" height="202" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>There are lots of plans available for free or cheap online but of course none of them quite has all the things I want, starting with "smart" furniture that maximizes space by having dual functionality. &nbsp;When I'm not looking at bus porn, I'm looking at convertible furniture porn like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yecPKdEvMUg/U09GkUhdbDI/AAAAAAAFMoc/w9yrxpWyOeM/s1600/convertible-funky-sofa-desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yecPKdEvMUg/U09GkUhdbDI/AAAAAAAFMoc/w9yrxpWyOeM/s1600/convertible-funky-sofa-desk.jpg" height="285" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or is at least ridiculously compact, like this:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l6T_E0OTMlc/U09GkbleZCI/AAAAAAAFMoU/0xRu6wYrPSw/s1600/Convertible-Furniture-Desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l6T_E0OTMlc/U09GkbleZCI/AAAAAAAFMoU/0xRu6wYrPSw/s1600/Convertible-Furniture-Desk.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are kind of toying with the idea of making the first official journey in her up to North Country Fair in June... &nbsp;I imagine that will mostly depend on how far we manage to get with renos and whether or not we manage to find some free seats to install for everyone to sit in. &nbsp;I imagine "camping" in the bus will be slightly less glamourous than camping in a tent, since it's basically going to still be just a big ol' box with air mattresses, a campstove, and a chemical toilet, but everyone seems pretty excited. &nbsp;Guess I better stop looking at bus porn and start lookin' fer some seats, hey?</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKAMvXrxM5M/U09BLX9WsCI/AAAAAAAFMoE/454TskkCMzk/s1600/1509750_10154056534640430_6905987819767232976_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eKAMvXrxM5M/U09BLX9WsCI/AAAAAAAFMoE/454TskkCMzk/s1600/1509750_10154056534640430_6905987819767232976_n.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-27776738648028957072014-04-11T15:41:00.002-06:002014-04-28T09:56:56.350-06:00I feel like singin' a little Etta...But I'd butcher it, so I'll save you the pain... enjoy:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nQ45Q7ZuTEs" width="560"></iframe></div><br />At last a few things are going right, despite the blip of Scammy McScammerpants who stole our money like a bandit (~insert ironic prison bus comment here~) I still don't have a straight answer on who will and will not do a vehicle inspection on the bus. &nbsp;I get conflicting stories from the insurance agent, the heavy duty mechanics, the commercial inspectors., AMVIC... &nbsp;According to Transportation Alberta, they don't care about insurance safety inspections and any licensed mechanic can do the job. &nbsp;Which is why I don't understand why my scummy little buddy "Brad Sando" aka "Leeroy Wilson" aka "new2calgary@live.ca" at 587.700.9062 won't respond, since he insisted he could sign but didn't. &nbsp;(Feel free to use that info to get in touch with him and ask him, "WTF, over?" He says 24-7 so I see no reason why 4am phonecalls and texting aren't valid.) <br /><br />His&nbsp;<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=151076721&amp;authType=NAME_SEARCH&amp;authToken=I7Rs&amp;locale=en_US&amp;srchid=1668139451397249191845&amp;srchindex=1&amp;srchtotal=3&amp;trk=vsrp_people_res_name&amp;trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1668139451397249191845%2CVSRPtargetId%3A151076721%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary" target="_blank">linked in profile</a>&nbsp;says he's a seismic driller but he must not be a very good one if he's turning tricks on the side. &nbsp;You can view&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kijiji.ca/o-posters-other-ads/83126392" target="_blank">his cornucopia of ads on Kijiji here</a>&nbsp;In case his ads expire and you are looking for any kind of "<span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 15px;">26+ years exp jack of all trades</span></span>"or "<span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 15px;">decks fences retaining walls</span></span>"&nbsp;or "<span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 15px;">mobile mechanical services 24/7</span></span>"&nbsp;or "<span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-top: 15px;">pre purchase inspection</span></span>"&nbsp;in Calgary, do NOT use this arseh*le. &nbsp;He's, well... an arseh*le.<br /><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1f768e; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit;">About &nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #323232; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Smokes often with A Few Extra Pounds</span></div><div class="user-details-narrow" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #323232; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.201919555664063px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 8px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 380px;"><div class="profileheadtitle" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 110px;"><span class="headline txtBlue size15" style="border: 0px; color: #1f768e; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">City</span></div><div class="profileheadcontent-narrow txtGrey size15" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 280px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 250px; word-wrap: break-word;">Calgary, Alberta</div></div><div class="user-details-wide" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #323232; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.201919555664063px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 8px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 550px;"><div class="profileheadtitle headline txtBlue size15" style="border: 0px; color: #1f768e; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 110px;">Details</div><div class="profileheadcontent" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 460px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 420px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="txtGrey size15" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">44 year old Man, 5' 10" (178cm), Christian - other</span></div></div><div class="user-details-narrow" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #323232; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.201919555664063px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 8px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 380px;"><div class="profileheadtitle" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 110px;"><span class=" headline txtBlue size15" style="border: 0px; color: #1f768e; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ethnicity</span></div><div class="profileheadcontent-narrow" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 280px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 250px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="txtGrey size15" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Caucasian Gemini with Mixed color hair</span></div></div><div class="user-details-wide" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #323232; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.201919555664063px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 8px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 550px;"><div class="profileheadtitle" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 110px;"><span class=" headline txtBlue size15" style="border: 0px; color: #1f768e; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Intent</span></div><div class="profileheadcontent" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 460px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 420px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="txtGrey size15" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">new2calgary</span></div></div><div class="user-details-narrow" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #323232; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.201919555664063px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 8px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 380px;"><div class="profileheadtitle" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 110px;"><span class=" headline txtBlue size15" style="border: 0px; color: #1f768e; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Education</span></div><div class="profileheadcontent-narrow" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 280px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 250px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="txtGrey size15" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">High School</span></div></div><div class="user-details-wide" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #323232; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.201919555664063px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 8px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 550px;"><div class="profileheadtitle" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 110px;"><span class=" headline txtBlue size15" style="border: 0px; color: #1f768e; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Personality</span></div><div class="profileheadcontent" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 460px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 420px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="txtGrey size15" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div></div><div class="user-details-narrow" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #323232; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.201919555664063px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 8px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 380px;"><div class="profileheadtitle" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 110px;"><span class=" headline txtBlue size15" style="border: 0px; color: #1f768e; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Profession</span></div><div class="profileheadcontent-narrow" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 280px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 250px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="txtGrey size15" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gas and oil industry</span></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1HGOodT6I8/U0hSXk8hmJI/AAAAAAAAAF8/hTqACECsGKA/s1600/CALGARY_sex_1289560.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1HGOodT6I8/U0hSXk8hmJI/AAAAAAAAAF8/hTqACECsGKA/s1600/CALGARY_sex_1289560.2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>According to his&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pof.com/viewprofile.aspx?profile_id=86566" target="_blank">Plenty of Fish profile</a>&nbsp;he's a rotund heavy smoking Christian "other" who is into extreme sports but has no personality. &nbsp;I'm assuming "other" is a euphemism for "non-practising" since good Christians don't rip people off. &nbsp;Or maybe that's just the two-sided nature of his "Gemini" spirit coming out like some kinda yin-yang, evil-good, asshole-wholeass thing... &nbsp;(Note: This profile picture is out of date - he is much older looking and has long straight hair now). &nbsp;As far as the internet reveals, he moved here from Ontario and he is not a nice man because he will steal your money. &nbsp;And you don't have to just take my word for it either:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eoLF0yFaVro/U0hLmKswyLI/AAAAAAAAAFs/eVwZN3XE5KU/s1600/Brad+Sando+mobile+mechanic+24-7.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eoLF0yFaVro/U0hLmKswyLI/AAAAAAAAAFs/eVwZN3XE5KU/s1600/Brad+Sando+mobile+mechanic+24-7.tiff" height="146" width="640" /></a></div><br />Anywho. &nbsp;I don't know <a href="about:invalid#zClosurez">if this is his info</a> either but whatever the case may be, Brad's a shifty guy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br />I am on the hunt for a rear bumper so the Sheriff passes inspection with flying colours. &nbsp;You have no idea how difficult it is finding the rear bumper for a 1993 Bluebird school bus until you go looking for one, and can't find it. &nbsp;We have an insurance company willing to cover the bus, and I am *close* to having it signed up for an inspection but the bumper will be a fail. &nbsp;Fingers crossed that I won't have to pay someone to tow the damned bus - AMVIC does not license mobile inspectors for their purposes, but there are lots of mobile mechanics who can and do work in the field doing insurance safeties. &nbsp;Just gotta find me one with a legit shop and current license. &nbsp;(Of course, you google for a "mobile heavy motorhome inspection" and you get Kijiji ads for arseh*les like Brad Sando the thief and con artist ~le sigh~ and it's kind of heartbreaking and frustrating.)<br /><br />The BEST news is though that I found someone willing and able to take over the lease on the Studio!!! &nbsp;As you can well imagine, this is a HUGE relief and weight off my mind. &nbsp;They move in immediately, so part of my Saturday night will be spent cleaning out the back bedroom and a spot in the garage for all the personal items I need to remove ASAP, then going whole hog selling off the rest of the stuff I need gone. &nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgDY5n8s7eh4dFM5bXdWQVNGeHIzdm5wUF9vZTlnV3c&amp;usp=sharing#gid=1">This is the complete inventory</a>. &nbsp;I'm also placing ads all over Kijiji in the next few days. &nbsp;(Actually, Bill is, but he doesn't know it yet...) &nbsp;Please feel free to shop 'til you drop - just zip me a quick note via the contact form on here and I will put your thingers on hold for you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><br />Now that the bus is coming closer to coming home, we need to start considering names for her. &nbsp;Initially, Nellie came to mind but I feel now like she should be called Helen Back. &nbsp;What do you think?Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-142146000250687432014-04-09T01:15:00.000-06:002014-04-09T01:56:31.713-06:00"S" for "SUCKER"Today was a day filled with an intense roller coaster of emotions including exhaustion, frustration, elation, relief, self-loathing, and anger. <br /><ul><li>pulled an all-niter to finish my term paper</li><li>worked all day</li><li>wrote my final exam</li><li>found a potential tenant to take over the studio</li><li>got screwed over by a guy I found on Kijiji who took our $$$ to do a useless bus inspection</li></ul><div>Now I'm just having a nice little pity party until I get sleepy enough to pass out.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~</div><div><br /></div>Lessons learned the hard way, right? &nbsp;I got swindled today by some arsehole on Kijiji. &nbsp;Luckily it's not the guy selling the bus - he's a swell fella and I'd even take him out for coffee. &nbsp;While the bus "passed" inspection with flying colours, the guy who did it is not certified to sign the actual inspection form I need to insure the bus. &nbsp;Bastard won't return my texts or reply to the email I have sent, and I imagine my money is now gone gone gone.<br /><br />~f-bomb~<br /><br />It's impossible to not feel incredibly stupid. &nbsp;I figured since he was going to have to show up in person to inspect the bus, and since the guy selling the bus is a mechanic himself, if there was going to be any funny business it would have been caught. &nbsp;I emailed the funds to the guy we're buying the bus from to pay the inspection guy cash, thinking this would safeguard me against him not doing the actual work, make him feel confident that there would be payment, etc. etc. &nbsp;Of course it's all fishy in hindsight - he said I couldn't email him money because his bank account was frozen after a bum cheque, so he wanted a Western Union transfer... I offered to have cash available to him when he showed up... ba da bing... BAM. &nbsp;Wicked scam. &nbsp;I doubt I will ever track him down. <br /><br />~insert a whole lot of f-bombs here~<br /><br />I'm trying to be all long hair, don't care about it but I'm really ~insert more f-bombs~ pissed.<br /><br />My only consolation is that buslife is happening, and if everything goes as planned we will have her in Edmonton by the first week of May. &nbsp;This video of the Sheriff in action makes it easier to come off the pity party. &nbsp;Ain't she sweet!!?? 8 seconds in reverse, baby - yeah! &nbsp;Check it out! &nbsp;(I have seriously watched this stupid video at least 5 times a day...)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/95Wyvmc4Y80" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If we have to insure her for 2 full months, there's a pretty good chance she will be taking us to North Country Fair in June. &nbsp;We best be getting airbrake certification soon, hey?</div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-5383534289383104442014-04-03T02:17:00.000-06:002014-04-03T03:02:32.912-06:0066,916My enthusiasm at finding what looks like an almost perfect bus for our conversion has substantially dampened since the initial euphoria hit a couple of days ago. &nbsp;I have no delusions about what we are embarking upon and most days, the excitement far outweighs the apprehension over how much there is to learn about owning and converting a bus. &nbsp;We're giving ourselves over 2 years to complete the project for several reasons, the extremely sharp learning curve being one of them. &nbsp;However, we've already hit the first of what I feel should be speed bumps but instead feel like road blocks. <br /><br />Number One Question right now? &nbsp;How to legally and affordably move the bus back to Edmonton. &nbsp;Since it runs (and since towing starts at $150/hr plus per km fees) you would think driving it is the most obvious and logical option, but nothing ever comes easy...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zgnVqgc2nT4/Uzz9uS0mGeI/AAAAAAAFMjk/HtnAlvEEyEE/s1600/1965046_10154010408175430_283869246_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zgnVqgc2nT4/Uzz9uS0mGeI/AAAAAAAFMjk/HtnAlvEEyEE/s1600/1965046_10154010408175430_283869246_n.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></div><br />How does one go about insuring a partially converted school bus, you wonder? &nbsp;Apparently, one doesn't. &nbsp;At least not without a whole lot of grief. &nbsp;So far, the insurance brokers I've spoken with have come up empty handed, save for one quote of $550 to insure it for 3 days with an "in transit" sticker. &nbsp;Bloody !%$#%@$ hell?????? &nbsp;I almost choked when she said that, and so far I haven't really gotten any clear answers from anyone else on exactly what is required to reclassify the vehicle from a bus to an RV. &nbsp;According to Registries, I just come in and register an RV- simple as that - and it's the insurance company we have to convince; so then the insurance lady said, well, no - it's a bus and we can't insure it as a motorhome until it's reclassified. &nbsp;RECLASSIFIED BY WHO, lady?!?!!? <br /><br />And, because it is over 15 years old, we need to get a safety inspection report completed. &nbsp;It's a different safety inspection (supposedly?) than one for commercial/passenger use. &nbsp;We can't insure the bus without an inspection, but we can't move the bus to get it inspected without having it insured. &nbsp;WTF, people? &nbsp;So now we are in the process of trying to find someone who can do the inspection on-site. &nbsp;For a reasonable price.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOE4g4ZeHWo/Uz0OUlB0qBI/AAAAAAAFMj0/TUwIHcVcm3k/s1600/1013879_10153988040615430_959953549_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOE4g4ZeHWo/Uz0OUlB0qBI/AAAAAAAFMj0/TUwIHcVcm3k/s1600/1013879_10153988040615430_959953549_n.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div><br />Our finances took a pretty big hit when our windshield got swhacked out by some two-bit thug last week, which means that there is very little room to budge within the budget right now. &nbsp;The current bus owner also forgot to mention that he practically took off the entire rear bumper with a track hoe at some point, so we are hoping that it a) doesn't fail inspection because of it and b) will give us lots of room to negotiate the price of the bus. &nbsp;That rear windshield done cost us $670 freakin' bucks of, "Why no, that's not insured because it's not a side window and therefore isn't classified as a break in under the theft portion of your policy..." &nbsp;I swear we cannot make that shit up. &nbsp;Verbatim, from Bill's mouth to my ears, courtesy of the same agent who quoted us $550 for 3 days worth of insurance!!! &nbsp;(FWIW, that works out to $66,916/year. &nbsp;Bullshit!)<br /><br />At this point, we have put a deposit down in good faith, to hold the bus while we get it safety inspected (by whom and how I have no clue) and find someone who will insure it as an RV without raping us on the price so we can get the bugger up to Edmonton. &nbsp;Providing there aren't any holes rusted through the bus frame, as a vehicle previously owned and maintained by the government I'm feeling fairly confident that it will pass inspection with relatively little difficulty despite its age, but the naysayers love to plant that seed of doubt. &nbsp;"Oh, no - it'll never pass..." they say. &nbsp;Thanks but no thanks for your negativity, jackasses. <br /><br />Anyway. &nbsp;After an exhaustive search for someone in a forum somewhere with more wisdom than I on the matter, all I managed to do was find provincial policy. &nbsp;Here is all the fun stuff you could ever want to know about <a href="http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Regs/2009_122.pdf%20" target="_blank">Alberta Transportation vehicle standards</a> and here is all the fun stuff you could ever want to know about what (supposedly) has to be inspected on the bus if it's an <a href="https://www.rvdirectinsurance.com/quote_engine/docs/Inspection.pdf" target="_blank">RV for private use</a> and not commercial.<br /><br />I reiterate, I realize there will be stuff that needs fixing up on the bus, but we need the bus in Edmonton to do that, don't we? &nbsp;Without a safety inspection we cannot get insurance, without insurance we cannot register, without registration we cannot hit the road... Hence, while I'm finding it difficult to get straight answers, I'm finding it even more difficult to not feel frustrated and discouraged. &nbsp;Wish us luck in the insurance quote and on-site inspection dept tomorrow. &nbsp;I'm crestfallen. &nbsp;And this before we have even figured out how to move the fence in our backyard so we can work on her without having to drive to someone's acreage. &nbsp;~le sigh~<br /><br />So, if anyone knows a guy who knows a guy who knows how to get things done and can get us an insurance quote on a "<b>Class A 43ft Bluebird RV with an approximate value of $5000</b>" or will do an on-site safety inspection less than 10kms outside of Calgary proper, please get in touch with me ASAP. &nbsp;@%^%@$#!!!!<br /><br />On a more cheerful note, we stopped in at Peter's for a quick bite and PAID WITH DEBIT. &nbsp;Yay for debit a Peter's and a pineapple chocolate milkshake!!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m1jiBYJZqYE/Uz0ixsguCXI/AAAAAAAFMkE/pfiuZbFyOHA/s1600/10168131_10154010345590430_1462367045_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m1jiBYJZqYE/Uz0ixsguCXI/AAAAAAAFMkE/pfiuZbFyOHA/s1600/10168131_10154010345590430_1462367045_n.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div><br /><br />~H.Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-13490897113629972282014-03-31T11:03:00.000-06:002014-04-02T00:59:49.030-06:00trying not to jinx it...I have a wicked bus crush. &nbsp;Because this is a prison bus, the windows are a lot smaller and I have a feeling it is going to be easier cutting out a few bigger windows than shutting up and welding in a bunch. &nbsp;I also feel like the idea of a blue bird prison bus being attached to a lifestyle change called "fly the coop" is is kind of perfect, no?<br /><br /><span class="hw" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">fly the coop</span><br /><div class="ds-single" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1cm;"><i>Fig.</i>&nbsp;to escape; to get out or get away. (Alludes to a chicken escaping from a chicken coop.)&nbsp;<span class="illustration" style="color: #226699; font-style: italic;">I couldn't stand the party, so I flew the coop.</span>&nbsp;<span class="illustration" style="color: #226699; font-style: italic;">The prisoner flew the coop at the first opportunity.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m70NitUcVQw/UzmciyJ7zbI/AAAAAAAFMaA/o4B6odrHncs/s1600/$_20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m70NitUcVQw/UzmciyJ7zbI/AAAAAAAFMaA/o4B6odrHncs/s1600/$_20.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />Please keep your fingers crossed that it's not a dud... &nbsp;we shall know on Wednesday... if the guy doesn't get another offer before then...<br /><br />Keep your fingers crossed for us, would ya?<br /><br />~H.Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-72791676294290565342014-03-07T11:04:00.000-07:002014-03-31T11:04:55.493-06:00toot all. too tall.So the bus of my dreams is apparently a short girl's dream. &nbsp;Specifically, school busses tend to have less headroom than city or coach busses. &nbsp;The Blue Bird we went to look at was sweet. &nbsp;Period. &nbsp;It sounded amazing, ran great, was mechanically sound, single owner, awesome price... but 3ft too short in length and 3inches too short in height. <br /><br />The search continues...<br /><br /><br />Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-19585520268709725152014-02-14T01:38:00.000-07:002014-04-02T00:49:11.303-06:00the busfound one. &nbsp;might have found THEE one. &nbsp;trying desperately not to get tooooooooo excited. <br /><br />big question now is: where the heck do you park a bus?<br /><br />(hopefully we can leave it sitting where it is until we get snow fencing up and can bring it home...)<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/srIIre8mvV4" width="420"></iframe>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057200188675897220.post-90123789479397293152014-02-12T01:24:00.001-07:002014-04-02T00:55:03.262-06:00just. want. a. f*cking. bus.So, I have very few prerequisites. &nbsp;Very few: &nbsp;Bus. &nbsp;Diesel. &nbsp;Runs. <br /><br />Some considerations:<br /><br />A friend says, do you not want a coach? &nbsp;There is more head room. &nbsp;You tell me. <br /><br />Do we strike you as the type to live in this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUmncBWFzxE/UvsqRD-wSuI/AAAAAAAFLEU/VwlA8glPQZw/s1600/v-view-image-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUmncBWFzxE/UvsqRD-wSuI/AAAAAAAFLEU/VwlA8glPQZw/s1600/v-view-image-1.jpeg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">And what about the mods, you say? &nbsp;(Ugly says I - who thought up this monstrosity?)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VwX7flGr7dQ/UvsrScDTpXI/AAAAAAAFLEk/kW0ZwaEU7fc/s1600/url.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VwX7flGr7dQ/UvsrScDTpXI/AAAAAAAFLEk/kW0ZwaEU7fc/s1600/url.jpeg" height="181" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">or does this look right?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rZtfX4aPbNA/UvsqRHrXrEI/AAAAAAAFLEI/6wsaIurHs0g/s1600/v-view-image-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rZtfX4aPbNA/UvsqRHrXrEI/AAAAAAAFLEI/6wsaIurHs0g/s1600/v-view-image-2.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And yes, a double decker would be lovely (like a 2-storey portable home!) but really, driving this down the Oregon coast, into South America, and up through the Bible Belt? &nbsp;All I can say is, a) I hope there isn't a lot of wind while we're driving through Oklahoma or b) hills in the mountains and c) if we're on biodiesel I sure hope there are a LOT of McDonald's between here and there...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulglpm-x_5o/UvsqRU5ElcI/AAAAAAAFLEM/qbEuUdHO158/s1600/v-view-image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulglpm-x_5o/UvsqRU5ElcI/AAAAAAAFLEM/qbEuUdHO158/s1600/v-view-image.jpeg" height="214" width="320" /></a></div><br />I'm feeling disheartened in the search for a bus... &nbsp;If you know of someone selling a flat-nose (or dognose) Bluebird for $3000 or less... hook a family up, would ya?<br /><br />In the meantime, enjoy a little OneRepublic. &nbsp;Count stars not dollars. &nbsp;Hope is our 4-letter word. &nbsp;Word, yo.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hT_nvWreIhg" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Why do I have the sudden overwhelming urge to shoot a music video?)</div>Hope Wallsnoreply@blogger.com0